Suspects in the Shooting Near a Church in Karak Charged with Terrorism

Charges Filed

Three suspects in the attack on a church in Jordan's Karak province have been charged with terrorism — the prosecutor's office announced on Tuesday, November 3, that the investigation has been completed, The National reports. The attack took place on October 23: gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at the Church of Saint George of the Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Khmoud, about 80 km south of Amman. Nine Christians were killed and 34 were wounded. It was the deadliest attack on Jordan's Christian minority since the 1950s.

Course of the Investigation and the Charges

Military judge Brigadier General Ahmad Talat Shahaltouh said investigators collected witness testimony, seized evidence from the crime scene, documented the weapons and ammunition used, and interrogated the suspects. Each of the defendants is charged, in particular, with nine counts of committing terrorist acts resulting in deaths and two counts of terrorist acts involving the use of weapons and ammunition. The charges also include possession of weapons intended for use in terrorist attacks, conspiracy to carry out armed attacks, promoting the ideology of a terrorist group, and acts that violate public order. The case has been referred to the State Security Court, which will begin the trial.

The Authorities' Reaction

All nine of those killed were men, several of whom belonged to the influential Halasa clan. According to The National, out of Jordan's population of 11 million, about 250,000 are Christians. King Abdullah II, in a speech before parliament, said that Jordan «will not allow terrorists to undermine the security and unity of this nation», adding: «These people are not of us. They left our great Jordanian family and betrayed it. They have no place among us — today and never».