Interior Minister Blames Extremists for Seven Deaths at Jordan Church
Three gunmen fired on a Greek Orthodox funeral in Karak for five minutes, killing seven and wounding 34, according to official reports.
By David Almasi ·
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya identified a group of extremists as the attackers behind a Friday shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan. The minister stated during a press conference that the incident killed seven people and wounded 34 others. The attack occurred in the village of Hammoud, located in Karak governorate, during a funeral procession.
The public security directorate reported that the assailants exited a vehicle and stormed the church compound before opening fire. Footage from the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka shows two men in casual clothing holding pistols and a third man carrying a long gun. The video captures the gunmen firing from a street entrance and advancing into the property. An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the attackers fired without pause for five minutes before fleeing the scene.
Karak lies 110 miles south of the capital, Amman, and maintains a large Christian population. The directorate described the assault as rare in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present in and around the church at the time of the shooting. Most victims were reported to be between the ages of 50 and 70.
Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces are currently investigating the attack. A manhunt for the three perpetrators is underway. King Abdullah II promised the harshest retaliation against those responsible. He wrote on social media that every Jordanian life is precious and that the nation would strike with an iron fist against threats.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world, condemned the shooting as a heinous terrorist attack. In a presidency statement, Aoun said the attack reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland. He noted that the goal of such violence is to strike at coexistence and spread strife.
Karak has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in the area. Those attacks included an incident at a Crusader castle popular with tourists. Ten people died in that event, including seven officers, while dozens were wounded. Jordanian security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.
The current incident marks the latest disruption to religious services in the region. The public security directorate continues to coordinate with local forces to locate the suspects. Officials have not yet released the names of the seven deceased or the specific religious affiliations of all victims beyond the church setting.
