Three arrested after gunmen kill nine at Jordan church
Nine people died in a shooting at a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak.
Gunmen opened fire Friday during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Karak. The church is about 120km southwest of Amman.
Nine people died and 40 others were wounded. Witnesses said the shooting lasted several minutes.
Jordanian security forces found three armed suspects hiding in an abandoned house. The men refused to surrender and attacked security forces, who returned fire and arrested them.
No security personnel were injured. Authorities found firearms and ammunition with the suspects.
King Abdullah ordered an "iron fist" response, calling it extremist terrorism. Such violence is rare in Jordan, a stable country and US partner.
- Nine killed, 40 wounded
- Death toll
- Hamoud, Karak, 120km southwest of Amman
- Location
- Three armed men found and arrested
- Suspects arrested
- King Abdullah ordered 'iron fist' response
- Response
Why it mattersThis rare attack on a religious service in a stable country raises concerns about extremist violence in the Middle East.
AustraliaNo direct Australian effect yet. Growing extremist violence in the Middle East could eventually affect Australian diplomacy, travel, and security cooperation in the region.
Corroborated byperthnow.com.au
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
