Jordan arrests three relatives over church attack that killed nine

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects on October 26, 2026, following a three-hour shootout in Karak governorate, ending a manhunt for the perpetrators of an attack on St George's Greek Orthodox Church that killed nine people and injured dozens. Officials identified the suspects as two brothers and their brother-in-law. King Abdullah II vowed an iron fist response against radical ideologies, while investigators report no foreign links.

Official statements on investigation findings

• ▪Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya stated that preliminary investigations into the St George's Church attack show no indications of links or collaboration between the three suspects arrested over the attack and foreign parties or external cells
• ▪Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya announced that ongoing investigations will examine the factors leading young people toward extremism and hold accountable anyone involved in the October 23, 2026 attack on St George's Church

Government response and mourning measures

• ▪Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared three days of national mourning beginning October 23, 2026, ordering government flags flown at half-mast following the October 23, 2026 shooting at St George's Church
• ▪King Abdullah II ordered security forces to respond with an iron fist to the October 23, 2026 attack on St George's Church and stated that no proponents of dark ideologies dividing Jordanians will be tolerated