Jordan arrests three suspects over deadly church shooting in Hamoud

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects following an armed confrontation in the village of Al-Jadeeda, concluding a multi-day manhunt after an assault on a Greek Orthodox church. According to the Public Security Directorate, the suspects were located during sweep operations in the Karak Governorate and refused to surrender, prompting an armed clash before they were apprehended with injuries. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya stated that the individuals were identified early through technical and visual means. Officials noted that no external group links had been established and no organization had claimed responsibility for what authorities described as extremist terrorism.

The violence unfolded when gunmen opened fire on mourners gathered for a funeral outside St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud. Father Yohanna Hamati told Agence France-Presse that between 170 and 200 people were present when the shooting began, sending panicked attendees fleeing inside. Survivor Sahar al-Halsa described sheltering behind a pillar before finding her wounded cousin outside.

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The massacre prompted an outpouring of national grief and solidarity. Thousands of mourners, including government ministers, tribal leaders, and Muslim clerics, gathered for funerals where flag-draped coffins were carried through the village. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan attended the services, while King Abdullah II condemned the violence and ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist. Religious leaders from diverse traditions stood alongside grieving families, emphasizing that the kingdom's coexistence remains resilient against extremist provocations.

Kamal Al Rawashdeh, a Muslim retiree, drove from a nearby village to attend the ceremonies, telling The National newspaper, I felt it was my duty, this was a heinous act.

Inside the church during the attack, Dr. Sayel al-Khaitan described the harrowing moments to Agence France-Presse, stating that it was a criminal, dark, spiteful, Daesh-style attack that targeted Jordanian society as a whole. He added that although they came under heavy fire, they survived by a miracle.

Father Yohanna Hamati recounted the terror of the assault to Agence France-Presse, stating that the attackers were hunting people and that nothing like it had ever happened to a church or a mosque. He noted that some of the wounded mourners were Muslim, emphasizing that no distinction is made between Muslim and Christian.

Outside Prince Ali Military Hospital, local resident Majed Jaafar shared his grief with Agence France-Presse, stating that they cried for the victims and that Christians are cousins, neighbors, and relatives with nothing between them but love.

Meanwhile, local community leaders and activists in Jordan have stressed that Muslims and Christians share a common destiny, rejecting attempts to divide society along sectarian lines.

Authorities have announced a thorough review of national security procedures and counter-extremist policies in response to the attack. Further updates on the judicial proceedings and the formal charges against the three detained suspects are expected as the investigation proceeds by the Public Security Directorate.