Seven killed as gunmen attack funeral at church in southern Jordan

Gunmen killed seven people and wounded dozens at a church in southern Jordan on Friday, authorities said, in a rare attack on Christians in the Muslim-majority kingdom, Dawn and The Express Tribune reported, citing AFP.

The assailants stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate and opened fire, according to the authorities. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said the gunmen got out of a vehicle and started shooting during a funeral procession, and that a manhunt was under way for the perpetrators.

The toll

After authorities first gave a death toll of six, Director of Public Security Major General Abdullah Al-Maaytah said it had risen to seven, with 34 injured, 27 of whom were still being treated. Most of the wounded remained under treatment, he said, and security forces continued searching for the attackers.

A witness told state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that a vehicle arrived with the gunmen, who fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing. Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time, the witness said, and most of the victims were aged between 50 and 70. Footage aired by Al-Mamlaka showed two gunmen in casual clothes with pistols and a third carrying a long gun as they opened fire on the church.

Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh described the attackers as “extremists”, but said it was too early to establish links to known groups, the Tribune reported.

The king’s response

“The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation,” King Abdullah II said in a post on X. “We will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation.” The king travelled to Karak on Friday evening, according to images from Al-Mamlaka. He warned that attempts to divide Jordanians would fail. Jordan’s prime minister called the attack the result of “terrorist extremist blind thinking”.

Karak is home to a significant Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom, the Tribune noted.

Pakistan’s condemnation

Pakistan strongly condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” on the funeral procession in Karak, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement, reiterating its condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Pakistan extended its heartfelt condolences to the government and people of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, especially to the bereaved families, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

“Pakistan stands in firm solidarity with the brotherly people of Jordan in their fight against terrorism, and reiterates its strongest condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” the FO said.

What is not yet known

No group has claimed responsibility, and the authorities have not named any suspects. The investigators’ main task is to trace the vehicle and the three attackers seen in the footage, and to establish whether they had links to any organisation.

Why it matters

Attacks on worshippers and mourners are rare in Jordan, and AFP described this one as a rare attack on the country’s Christian minority. The shooting is a test for the country’s security services, and the king’s language of “iron fist” retaliation signals that a tough response should be expected in Karak. The coming days, including whether the gunmen are caught and identified, will show whether the attack was an isolated act or part of a wider threat.

This article draws on reporting by Dawn, The Express Tribune and AFP.