Gunmen Assault Church During Funeral in Southern Jordan
Authorities report that at least seven people were killed when assailants opened fire at a religious gathering in the Karak governorate.
By Kwame Silva ·
Security forces in Jordan are searching for attackers who opened fire at a church in the village of Hammoud on Friday. The shooting took place during a funeral, leaving at least seven people dead and 34 others injured, according to government officials.
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya announced casualty figures at a press conference and attributed the violence to a group of extremists. The public security directorate reported that assailants exited a vehicle to storm the compound of a Greek Orthodox church and began shooting. Authorities confirmed that a manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.
Karak, located roughly 110 miles south of the capital Amman, is home to a significant Christian community. This assault represents a rare act of violence targeting Christians in the country, which is a Sunni Muslim majority kingdom.
State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka aired footage showing two gunmen in casual clothing holding pistols and a third individual carrying a long gun. The video depicts the assailants firing at the church from a street entrance before moving forward. An eyewitness speaking to Al-Mamlaka stated that the attackers arrived in a vehicle and fired for five minutes before fleeing the scene. The witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were in or around the church at that time, noting that most victims were between 50 and 70 years old.
King Abdullah II vowed to pursue those responsible for the violence, stating on social media that he promised the "harshest retaliation" and that every Jordanian life is precious. He added, "we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation." Mohammed Al-Momani, the Minister of Government Communications, confirmed that security forces are investigating the incident.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a "heinous terrorist attack." His office issued a statement quoting him as saying that such events "reaffirms once again that terrorism has no religion and no homeland, and its aim is to strike at coexistence and spread strife." Aoun is the only Christian head of state in the Arab world.
Violence has flared in this region before. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks across the area, including at a Crusader castle. That violence resulted in the deaths of ten people, seven of whom were officers, and left dozens wounded. Jordanian security forces ultimately killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.
