Three Gunmen Kill Seven at Greek Orthodox Church Funeral in Karak
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya attributed the five-minute ambush in Hammoud village to a group of extremists, leaving 34 others wounded.
By Natalia Costa ·
Gunmen stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, southern Jordan, on Friday and opened fire during a funeral procession. Authorities confirmed that at least seven people were killed in the attack, which took place in Karak governorate, a region known for its Christian population. The incident marks a rare violent assault on Christians in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom.
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya stated at a press conference that 34 other individuals were wounded. He identified a group of extremists as the responsible party for the shooting. The public security directorate reported that the assailants exited a vehicle and advanced toward the church entrance while firing their weapons.
Eyewitnesses described the violence as intense and sustained. One witness speaking to the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka said the attackers fired without pause for five minutes before fleeing the scene. The witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were inside or around the church at the time of the ambush. Most of the victims were reported to be between 50 and 70 years old.
Footage from Al-Mamlaka showed three men in casual clothing entering the fight. Two held pistols, while a third carried a long gun. They positioned themselves at a street-facing entrance and advanced into the compound. A manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.
King Abdullah II responded to the attack on social media, promising the "harshest retaliation" against those responsible. He stated that every Jordanian life is precious and pledged to strike with an iron fist against those threatening the nation. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani confirmed that security forces are investigating the incident.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting as a "heinous terrorist attack." In a statement released by the presidency, Aoun said the incident reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland and aims to strike at coexistence. He noted that the attack spreads strife in the region.
Karak governorate has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in the area, including at a Crusader castle. Those attacks killed ten people, seven of whom were officers, and wounded dozens. Security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.
