Three men open fire on mourners in Jordan, killing seven
Officials in Karak report a 15 minute attack that left 34 others wounded as the King orders strict penalties.
By Layla Fontaine ·
Seven people died and at least 34 others were injured when gunmen attacked a church in central Jordan on Friday.
The shooting occurred in Hmoud, located in the Karak governorate. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya described the event as a violent act by a group of extremists. He called the incident painful and unprecedented in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom.
Video footage verified by the BBC shows three men approaching the church from a road. Two of them enter what appears to be a vehicle entrance, briefly retreat, and return with a third man. All three are seen carrying handguns. The attackers reportedly arrived by car and fled in a pickup truck while firing.
Witnesses inside the church described a scene of panic. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present during the attack, said the gunfire lasted about 15 minutes. He noted that people tried to flee while the shooting was still active. Another witness said the situation escalated for ten continuous minutes after prayers began.
A woman inside the building reported seeing bodies in the courtyards when she finally exited. Security forces closed nearby roads and tightened controls at a hospital in Karak where the wounded were treated. Families gathered outside the hospital entrance, expressing shock and frustration.
King Abdullah II stated that authorities would confront the act with the harshest penalties. The death toll was initially reported as six by a government spokesperson before officials confirmed seven. Jordan’s president of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, also condemned the attack as a violation of funeral mourners.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Karak has a notable Christian community in the majority Muslim country. Deadly attacks are rare in the region, but this incident marks a sharp increase in violence against religious gatherings.
