Jordan's Christian Community Reeled by Nine Deaths at Karak Church Funeral
Security forces are sweeping the Karak governorate after shooters targeted a Greek Orthodox funeral service, leaving 40 others wounded.
By Elijah Fitzgerald ·
Three armed men opened fire on a funeral gathering at St George's Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Jordan, on Friday, killing nine people and wounding 40 others. The attack targeted the Christian minority in a rare assault on the country's religious sites. Health officials confirmed the injury count, while security leaders stated that most victims were receiving treatment and that a search for the shooters remained active.
Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh identified the perpetrators as extremists. He noted that it was too early to determine if the attackers had links to known groups inside or outside Jordan. No organization has formally claimed responsibility for the incident. Footage from a security camera, verified by Reuters, showed the three shooters firing from a pavement. They took cover behind trees and a low wall before moving toward the church entrance.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos during the service. Priest Theodoros Soueiss said he and others urged the congregation to get down. He stated, 'A sense of panic took hold among those present,' adding that the gunfire was indiscriminate. Khaled Burqan, a funeral attendee, told state television that dozens of people were present when the gunmen fired for several minutes. Another witness, Ihab Ammareen, observed bloodied individuals collapsing on the floor. He described the scene as people crying, wailing, and screaming.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan posted on X that the attack was a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He wrote that the country would not allow society to go down that path. King Abdullah visited Karak within hours of the shooting. He vowed that the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. The King said those who attempt to divide Jordanians with bullets have no chance in the face of national unity.
Security forces deployed near the church entrance, where Reuters footage showed blood smeared on the floor. The US embassy in Amman announced on Saturday that security measures had been increased at malls, foreign embassies, and other locations across the country. UN Secretary General António Guterres condemned the violence, calling attacks on places of worship unacceptable. Mike Waltz, the US ambassador to the UN, labeled it a depraved and brutal attack.
Jordan has been considered relatively stable, though US authorities report repeatedly foiling Islamist militant plots in recent years. The country faced Iranian attacks this year after US and Israeli strikes against Iran in February. Christians remain a minority in Jordan, a nation home to several biblical sites that attract pilgrims from around the world.
Outside a government hospital in Karak, Hani Al-Mbaydeen voiced the shock felt by many supporters. He said the state must investigate where such dark ideas come from and how they enter the minds of children. The next step in the investigation involves a full security sweep of the Karak governorate to locate the three gunmen.
