Jordan Church Attack: Gunmen Kill Seven at Karak Funeral

Seven people died and at least 34 were wounded when gunmen opened fire on a funeral service at a church in Hmoud, central Jordan, on Friday. The attack occurred in the Karak governorate, a region with a large Christian population within the majority Muslim nation.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya labeled the attackers a "group of extremists" during a press briefing. He described the incident as "painful and horrific" and "unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." Authorities have not yet identified the specific individuals or groups responsible, and no claim of responsibility has been filed.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene inside the building as gunfire erupted. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present at the church, stated the shooting lasted approximately 15 minutes. He noted that people attempted to flee while the gunfire was still active. Another witness compared the sound of the weapons to a war starting. A woman inside reported that the situation escalated for ten continuous minutes after prayers began, leaving bodies scattered across the courtyards when she exited.

Video footage verified by the BBC shows three men approaching the church from a road. Two of the individuals entered what appears to be a vehicle entrance, briefly retreated, and then reappeared with a third man. All three carried handguns. After the shooting, the attackers exited through the main doors and fled in a pickup truck, continuing to fire as they drove away. The initial death toll varied, with early reports citing seven deaths, a subsequent government statement listing six, and officials later confirming the count back to seven.

King Abdullah II stated that authorities would "confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties." Security forces tightened controls around a local hospital treating the victims. Roads near the facility were closed, forcing some visitors to park and walk the remaining distance. Residents expressed shock and anger, with some criticizing the government for not taking a tougher approach to terrorism.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a "hexious terrorist attack." He said the violence violated the sanctity of mourners and contradicted religious and humanitarian values. Deadly attacks are rare in Jordan, though they have occurred previously in the country's history.