Karak Church Attack: Seven Dead and 40 Wounded in Funeral Shooting
Three armed men opened fire at a Greek Orthodox service in Jordan, prompting the king to vow harshest penalties and the nation to declare three days of mourning.
By Emily Carter ·
Seven people died and 40 were wounded after gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan. The attack occurred on Friday in the town located roughly 90 kilometers south of the capital, Amman. Authorities confirmed the casualty count, marking a sharp escalation of violence in a region with a small Christian population.
Footage from state television showed the sequence of events. Two men carrying pistols approached the church and began shooting. A third man with a semiautomatic rifle followed, firing before the group ran toward the building. Witness videos captured shattered glass and blood on the church floor. One mourner, Dorgham Halasa, reported that heavy gunfire started 15 minutes after the service began. He noted that people inside reported seeing four attackers, though security services have not yet confirmed the total number of assailants.
The Jordanian government stated the attack was carried out by unknown assailants. Officials said investigations were proceeding at full speed but did not indicate whether any shooters had been captured or killed. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour announced that two of the wounded patients remain in critical condition. The Petra News Agency reported that the kingdom declared three days of national mourning.
King Abdullah II posted on X that Jordan would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished recovery for the injured. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan spoke at a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening. He described the attack as the product of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. Hassan said legal measures would be taken against those seeking to introduce extremism.
Karak has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks, including at a Crusader castle. Ten people died in that incident, seven of whom were officers. Security forces killed the attackers after a long standoff. The current attack drew immediate condemnation from regional and international leaders. Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, called the shooting a heinous terrorist attack.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein phoned his Jordanian counterpart to affirm solidarity in the face of terrorism. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the event. His spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, said Guterres called the attack especially heinous because it occurred during a funeral. Guterres called for all responsible parties to be found and held to account.
Source: NPR
