Gunmen storm Jordan church during funeral, killing seven
Three attackers opened fire at a Greek Orthodox service in Karak, injuring 40 and prompting the king to demand maximum legal penalties.
By Sakura Novak ·
A funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, turned into a deadly ambush on Friday morning. The town lies roughly 90 kilometers south of Amman, and the attack left seven people dead and 40 others wounded.
State television footage showed two men approaching the building with pistols, firing as they walked. A third man, carrying a semiautomatic rifle, followed them and opened fire before the group ran inside. Witnesses recorded shattered glass and blood pooling on the church floor in the aftermath.
Dorgham Halasa, a mourner inside, said heavy gunfire erupted about 15 minutes after the service began. He described the scene as chaotic, with people running for cover. While Halasa did not see the attackers himself, he reported that others inside the church counted four figures. Security services have not yet confirmed the exact number of assailants.
The government stated that the assault was carried out by unknown individuals and that investigations are proceeding at full speed. It did not specify whether any suspects had been captured or killed. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour noted that two of the wounded remain in critical condition.
King Abdullah II posted on X that Jordan would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished recovery for the injured. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, speaking at a security meeting in Karak that evening, labeled the attack a product of terrorist ideology. He promised legal measures against those seeking to introduce blind extremism.
Karak has a history of violence involving its minority Christian population. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police near a Crusader castle in the area, killing ten people, including seven officers. Jordanian security forces ended that standoff by killing the attackers after a prolonged exchange of fire.
Regional leaders quickly condemned the shooting. The grand imam of Al-Azhar called the event a heinous terrorist attack, and the Iraqi foreign minister affirmed solidarity with Jordan. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described the attack as especially heinous because it occurred during a funeral. His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said Guterres called for all responsible parties to be found and held to account.
