Authorities describe the shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate as a terrorist act by extremists; king vows harshest penalties.
Gunmen opened fire on mourners attending a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and wounding at least 34 others in a rare attack on the country’s Christian minority, officials said.
The assault took place at St. George’s Church (also referred to as Hamoud or Hmoud Church) in the village of Hamoud in Karak governorate, about 180km (110 miles) south of the capital Amman. Between 150 and 200 people were present when the gunmen arrived in a vehicle, stepped out and began shooting for several minutes before fleeing.
Jordan Church Attack Kills Seven, Investigation Underway:
Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed the death toll of seven. Director Obaidullah (Abdallah) al-Maaytah said most of the wounded were receiving hospital treatment and that a manhunt for the attackers was ongoing. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya described the perpetrators as “a group of extremists” and said the incident was a terrorist act “unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.”
CCTV footage verified by multiple outlets showed three armed men approaching the church grounds. Two appeared to carry handguns while a third held what looked like a rifle. Witnesses reported intense gunfire that left broken glass and pools of blood inside the church. One mourner, Khaled Burqan, told state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that the attackers fired for several minutes. Another survivor said people initially mistook the shots for explosions before chaos erupted.
King Abdullah II visited Karak hours after the attack, meeting the injured at a local hospital. In a statement, he said authorities would confront the “terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties” and warned that those seeking to divide Jordanians would fail. Jordan declared three days of national mourning.
No group has claimed responsibility. Officials said investigations were continuing at full speed and that it was too early to determine whether the attackers belonged to a known organisation. Some preliminary assessments pointed to Takfiri ideology, though authorities emphasised that national unity would not be undermined.
Jordan Vows Unity After Deadly Church Attack:
The attack has shocked Jordan, where Christians form a small but long-established minority that has generally enjoyed peaceful coexistence. Karak itself has a significant Christian community with roots dating back centuries. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several countries condemned the shooting.
Security forces remain deployed in the area as the search for the gunmen continues. Most of the victims were reported to be older adults aged between 50 and 70. Two of the wounded were in critical condition, according to the health minister.
Jordanian officials have repeatedly stressed that the attack will not succeed in sowing division and that the perpetrators will face full accountability under the law.