Armed assailants opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, prompting nationwide mourning and widespread condemnation.
At least seven people were killed and 40 others injured after gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan, on Friday, triggering panic among mourners and prompting authorities to launch an investigation into the deadly attack.
The shooting occurred in Karak, approximately 180 kilometres south of the Jordanian capital, Amman. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour confirmed that two of the injured were in critical condition. The government said the perpetrators had not yet been identified and that investigations were progressing urgently.
According to The Guardian, footage aired by Jordanian state television showed two armed men approaching the church and firing what appeared to be pistols. A third individual, apparently carrying a semiautomatic rifle, subsequently joined the shooting before the three men moved towards the church. Separate videos recorded by witnesses showed shattered glass and bloodstains inside the building.
The Jordanian government described the shooting as an attack by unidentified perpetrators but did not disclose whether any suspects had been arrested or killed.
Following the incident, Jordan declared three days of national mourning, the country’s official Petra news agency reported.
King Abdullah II strongly condemned the attack, describing it as an act of terrorism and promising severe punishment for those responsible. In a message posted on X, the monarch expressed condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, who attended a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening, attributed the violence to extremist ideology. He pledged that those involved would face legal consequences and reiterated the government’s determination to prevent extremism from threatening national security.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the violence. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, described the targeting of people attending a funeral as particularly appalling and called for those responsible to be identified and brought to justice.
Karak, which has a minority Christian community, previously witnessed a major militant attack in 2016, when gunmen targeted police and other locations, including a historic Crusader castle. Ten people, including seven police officers, were killed in those attacks before security forces eliminated the assailants.
Authorities have yet to announce the identities or motives of those responsible for Friday’s shooting.
