King Abdullah Orders Security Sweep After Eight Killed in Karak Church

Jordan's monarch directed security agencies to pursue a forceful response after gunmen opened fire at a place of worship in the Karak region. The royal court confirmed that King Abdullah issued the order immediately following the incident.

Eight people died in the attack, while 40 others sustained injuries. The violence occurred on Friday during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church located approximately 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Officials described the event as an act of extremist terrorism. Gunmen fired for several minutes in broad daylight.

Security forces have increased patrols at shopping malls, embassies, and other high-traffic areas across the country, according to the US embassy in Amman. No group has claimed responsibility for the shooting. Jordanian authorities stated it was too early to determine if the attackers had links to known domestic or foreign organizations. The state-run Petra News Agency reported that the nation entered a three-day mourning period.

King Abdullah traveled to Karak within hours of the gunfire. He pledged to punish the perpetrators with an iron fist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan characterized the strike as the result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He stated on social media that society would not follow that path.

Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived the shooting, told Reuters that an attacker standing two meters away aimed a handgun at him. His son, who was also present, suffered a leg wound and is receiving hospital treatment. Al-Burqan later observed two assailants through a window, noting that one wore a mask while the other carried a pistol.

Tarek Ammarin, whose relative was injured, described the scene at the hospital as a massacre in every sense. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village, called the attack wicked and expressed hope that the country would remain safe. Video footage showed police patrolling the church exterior on Saturday.

Such attacks are rare in the US-allied kingdom, though officials have foiled plots by violent groups in recent years. Karak hosts a minority Christian population, and the country contains biblical sites that attract pilgrims from around the world.