Jordan arrests three after church attack kills nine

Jordanian security forces arrested three suspects Monday after a dawn raid on an abandoned house. Gunmen had opened fire during a funeral procession on Oct. 23 at St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Hammoud, Karak, killing nine. The suspects refused to surrender and opened fire; all three were wounded and captured, with no security-force injuries reported. An unnamed official told Al Jazeera Net the clash lasted about three hours. Eight of the nine victims were buried Sunday near the church, their flag-draped coffins carried through a large crowd with religious figures and heavy security. King Abdullah II visited the wounded at Karak Government Hospital and said the security and safety of Jordanians are "a red line" and "the hand of justice will reach every terrorist," having pledged the "harshest retaliation." Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya said the attackers were Jordanian nationals with no confirmed external ties and that it was premature to say more. Jordan ordered three days of national mourning. The National Security Council ordered a security assessment and counter-extremism policy review. CONTESTED: Wounded toll is 25 per AFP and state TV, and 34 per TASS.