Jordan Arrests Three Suspects After Funeral Attack Kills Nine
Gunmen targeted mourners at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate; authorities have not linked the suspects to a larger group.
By Alina Campbell ·
Nine people died and 34 others suffered injuries when gunmen opened fire during a funeral service on October 23. The attack took place at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud within Jordan’s Karak governorate. The service honored the life of Dr. Mohammad Qassous, a physician locally known as the Doctor of the Poor.
Jordanian security forces captured three suspects following a shootout in the nearby village of Al-Jadeeda. Reports indicate the three individuals belong to the same family. Government officials have not confirmed a connection between the suspects and any external organization. No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the shooting.
The incident drew immediate attention due to the religious composition of the village. Jordan has a long history of coexistence between Muslim and Christian residents. However, social media reactions quickly turned toward questioning the motivations behind the violence. Some users criticized Muslims for the attack despite the presence of shared cultural naming conventions across faiths in the region.
Three days after the church shooting, Jordanian military forces conducted airstrikes in Syria. The strikes targeted sites in the Daraa and Sweidaa provinces. Jordan stated the operations aimed to eliminate Islamic State militants who posed threats to the kingdom. Syrian authorities reported that the bombings killed seven civilians and wounded three others. Among the dead were three children and one woman. Five of the victims belonged to a single family.
Jordan expressed regret over the civilian losses in the Syrian strikes. Officials said the military sought to avoid targeting non-combatants. The two governments agreed to form a joint security committee to review the details of the operation. This committee will examine the chain of command and the intelligence used to select the targets in Syria.
The investigation into the Hamoud shooting remains active. Authorities are working to determine the specific motive for the attack and identify any other potential participants. The process seeks to rely on evidence rather than public speculation. The families of the nine victims are waiting for the findings of the probe.
The victims of the church shooting were attending the service for Dr. Qassous. The event brought together members of the local community to mourn his passing. The gunfire interrupted the proceedings and left many attendees wounded. The three arrested suspects remain in custody as the legal process moves forward.
