Jordan arrests three suspects in Karak church attack that killed eight

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on Monday in connection with a gun attack on a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, in Karak governorate, that killed eight people and wounded 40 on Friday.

The suspects were found hiding in an abandoned house in the village of Al-Jadeeda in Karak. They refused to surrender and attacked security forces, who returned fire and arrested all three after wounding them, Jordan's Public Security Directorate said. The confrontation lasted approximately three hours. One suspect was in critical condition, a Jordanian government source told Al Jazeera.

No casualties were reported among security personnel. A search of the site yielded firearms and live ammunition, according to Jordan's Petra News Agency.

"Terrorism has no place among us," the Public Security Directorate said, without naming any affiliated group.

Government Communication Minister Mohammad Momani described the operation as a successful joint effort and confirmed all three suspects were in custody.

Of the 40 people injured in Friday's attack, 27 remained in hospital on Monday, with one person in critical condition after undergoing surgery, the director of Prince Ali Military Hospital in Karak said.

Karak is home to many members of Jordan's Christian minority, which makes up around 300,000 of the country's 11.5 million people. King Abdullah II said those responsible would face the harshest penalties and ordered a review of the country's security procedures.