New Delhi: Seven people were killed and 40 others injured on Friday when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak governorate. Authorities are investigating to identify the attackers, and the government has described the shooting as a terrorist act linked to extremism. Jordan has declared three days of national mourning.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
The shooting took place on Friday, October 23, at the church in the village of Hammoud, where mourners had gathered for the funeral. Fourteen injured people were admitted to Karak Government Hospital and 26 to Prince Ali bin Al Hussein Military Hospital. Three of them were later transferred to the Italian Hospital in Karak.
Jordan’s health minister, Ibrahim Bdour, confirmed at a press briefing on Friday that 40 people were injured in the attack, including two in critical condition, Petra reported. The government vowed to pursue those responsible and bring them to justice.
Jordan’s security agencies have launched an investigation and a search for those responsible. The authorities said it was too early to establish whether the attackers had links to any known organization inside or outside the country.
Footage from the scene circulating on social media showed three armed men approaching the church and opening fire. The men appeared to be carrying handguns and a longer firearm before moving towards the church entrance. Aspects of the footage, including the church’s entrance and surrounding wall, have been verified, Reuters said.
Witnesses cited in several news reports described scenes of panic as gunfire erupted among the mourners.
King Abdullah vows strict action
King Abdullah II visited Karak after the attack and vowed to impose the harshest penalties on those responsible. He said the perpetrators would not succeed in dividing Jordanians and stressed that national unity would prevail.
The prime minister, Jafar Hassan, also condemned the shooting, attributing it to extremist ideology. He said the authorities would take legal action against those responsible and would not allow extremist ideas to threaten Jordanian society.
The investigation is continuing, and officials have not publicly identified the suspects or confirmed any arrests. The absence of a claim of responsibility has also left the motive and possible organizational links unclear.
UN and regional leaders condemn attack
The attack drew condemnation from international and regional leaders. The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, said in a post on X that attacks against civilians and places of worship were unacceptable. He called for those responsible to be found and held accountable.
The Lebanese president, Joseph Aoun, described the incident as a terrorist attack that violated the sanctity of a funeral and contradicted religious and humanitarian values. Other regional voices also expressed solidarity with Jordan and the victims’ families.
The shooting has renewed concern over security at religious gatherings in a country where such violence is rare. Karak has a large Christian community, and Christians are a minority in Muslim-majority Jordan.