Karak Church Tragedy: Witnesses Describe Panic as Three Gunmen Open Fire

Three unidentified gunmen attacked a funeral service at a church in Hmoud, Jordan, on Friday, killing seven people and wounding at least 34 others. The incident occurred in the Karak governorate, a region with a notable Christian population within the majority Muslim country. Officials confirmed the death toll after initial reports fluctuated between six and seven casualties.

Witnesses reported that the attackers arrived by car and entered the church grounds. They opened fire for approximately 15 minutes before fleeing in a pickup truck. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present at the church, stated that people attempted to flee while the shooting was still active. He noted that the gunmen exited through the main doors and fired as they drove away. Another witness described the sudden onset of gunfire as sounding like the start of a war. A woman inside the building said the violence continued for 10 continuous minutes after prayers began. She reported seeing bodies in the courtyards when she finally left the structure.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed the media after the event. He labeled the perpetrators a group of extremists and described the incident as unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom. Al-Faraya stated that authorities were working to arrest those responsible. King Abdullah II responded by promising that the government would confront the act with the harshest penalties. The monarch later visited a hospital in Karak to see the injured, where security was tightened and roads were closed to manage the crowd.

CCTV footage verified by the BBC shows three men approaching the church. Two appear to enter a vehicle entrance, retreat briefly, and then return with a third man. All three are seen carrying handguns. Separate video from the aftermath depicts dead and wounded individuals on the ground. Witnesses inside the church described a scene of panic, with people hiding under pews and moving away from windows to avoid stray bullets. Prayers and screams were audible throughout the building during the exchange of fire.

The attack has drawn reactions from regional leaders. President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon condemned the event, calling it a heinous terrorist attack. He stated that the violence violated the sanctity of death and contradicted religious and humanitarian values. In Karak, residents expressed shock and anger. Some voiced frustration regarding what they called a failure to take a tougher approach toward terrorists. Families gathered at the hospital entrance, where the mood remained tense with crying and shouting.

Jordan has experienced deadly attacks in the past, though such violence is rare. The Christian community in Karak is sizeable, making the targeting of a funeral particularly shocking to locals. Authorities have not yet claimed responsibility or identified the specific group behind the attack. The investigation remains active as security forces search for the three gunmen.