Jordanian forces arrest three suspects in church shooting that killed nine

Security forces in Jordan arrested three armed suspects on Monday in connection with a deadly attack on a church that killed nine people, state television reported.

The shooting took place on Friday during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, in Karak governorate, roughly 120 kilometres southwest of the capital, Amman. In addition to the nine people killed, 40 others were wounded, and witnesses said the gunfire went on for several minutes.

Jordan's Public Security Directorate said the three suspects were tracked down while hiding in an abandoned house in Karak. According to a statement published on state media, the men refused to surrender and opened fire on security forces, who shot back, wounded them and took all three into custody.

The directorate said no security personnel were hurt in the exchange, and that officers recovered a number of firearms and ammunition from the suspects.

Jordanian authorities have described the attack as the work of "extremist terrorists," though no group has claimed responsibility. The Public Security Directorate did not release the names of the suspects or identify any ties they may have to Islamist militant organizations.

"Terrorism has no place among us," the directorate said in its statement, adding that the suspects had met their "just fate."

King Abdullah, a key United States partner in the campaign against Islamist militant groups, has ordered security forces to respond with an "iron fist" to the rare assault on the country's Christian minority.

Such violence is highly unusual in Jordan, which is considered one of the more stable countries in the Middle East, although officials say they have broken up a number of Islamist militant plots over the years.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said authorities are examining the circumstances that pushed young people toward extremism. He added that anyone found to have taken part in the attack would be held accountable.