Seven Killed, 34 Injured in Deadly Attack on Church Funeral in Jordan

Seven people have been killed and at least 34 others injured after gunmen attacked a church during a funeral in Hmoud, in Jordan’s central Karak governorate, on Friday.

The attackers reportedly arrived in a vehicle, entered the church and opened fire on mourners before fleeing the scene. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, and authorities are working to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The incident has prompted a major security response and strong condemnation from Jordanian leaders, with officials describing the shooting as an unprecedented act of violence in the country.

Interior Minister Vows to Pursue Suspects

Jordan’s Interior Minister, Mazen al-Faraya, said security agencies were working to arrest the perpetrators, describing them as a “group of extremists”.

During a news conference, al-Faraya called the incident painful and horrific, adding that an attack of this nature was unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Authorities have not publicly established the motive behind the shooting or confirmed whether the attackers had links to an organised group.

King Abdullah II Condemns Attack

King Abdullah II strongly condemned the violence and vowed that those responsible would face severe punishment.

In a statement shared on X, the monarch said authorities would confront what he described as a terrorist act targeting Karak, promising the harshest penalties for those involved.

He also stressed Jordan’s national unity, warning that attempts to divide Jordanians through violence would fail.

Jordan’s state-run television station, Al-Mamlaka, reported that the king travelled to Karak on Friday evening to check on the condition of those injured in the attack.

Mourners Describe Gunfire Inside Church

Khaled Burqan, one of the mourners present during the funeral, told Al-Mamlaka that dozens of people were inside the church when the shooting began.

He said two attackers armed with a rifle and a pistol fired at mourners for several minutes before escaping.

CCTV footage verified by the BBC reportedly showed three armed individuals approaching the church from a nearby road. Two were seen moving towards what appeared to be a vehicle entrance before briefly retreating and returning with a third man.

The footage appeared to show all three carrying handguns. However, the identities of the individuals and their precise roles in the attack remain subject to investigation.

Reports from the aftermath described chaotic scenes, with injured people receiving assistance as security personnel maintained a heavy presence around a hospital treating victims.

The attack has heightened anger and grief among residents of Karak, particularly families affected by the deaths and injuries.

Conflicting Death Toll Reports

The reported number of fatalities changed as officials issued updates following the attack.

Initial reports indicated that seven people had died. A government spokesperson subsequently reported six deaths before authorities again revised the toll to seven.

The latest figure provided in the available reports is seven people killed, with at least 34 others injured.

International Condemnation

The attack has drawn condemnation beyond Jordan. Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun denounced the shooting, describing it as a terrorist attack that violated the sanctity of a funeral and contradicted religious and humanitarian values, according to Lebanese media.

Karak has a sizeable Christian community in predominantly Muslim Jordan, where such violence is relatively rare. The attack has therefore raised concerns about the safety of religious gatherings and the potential impact of extremist violence on the country’s longstanding interfaith coexistence.

Jordanian authorities continue to investigate the incident as efforts to identify and apprehend the attackers proceed.