Gunmen Attack Funeral in Jordan
In Jordan’s Karak governorate, gunmen opened fire at a funeral in a Greek Orthodox church on Friday, resulting in seven deaths and 40 injuries, as reported by authorities. The incident occurred in Hamoud village, located about 90 kilometers south of Amman, the capital. Jordanian state television broadcast footage showing two gunmen with pistols approaching the church, followed by a third with a semiautomatic rifle, all firing shots.
Video taken by witnesses inside the church revealed broken glass and pools of blood. Dorgham Halasa, a mourner, recounted that the gunfire began 15 minutes after the funeral started, leading to panic and chaos. Though he did not see the gunmen, he heard reports of four assailants involved. The associated authorities could not independently confirm the number of attackers, and Jordan’s security services refrained from providing immediate details. A government statement mentioned that the attack was conducted by unknown assailants, with ongoing investigations proceeding swiftly.
Jordan declared three days of national mourning, as per the Petra News Agency. During King Abdullah II’s visit to the wounded at Prince Ali Military Hospital, security personnel restricted access to residents. Karak, known for its minority Christian community, has witnessed previous attacks, such as in 2016 when gunmen targeted police and a Crusader castle, causing ten deaths, including seven officers. The attackers were later neutralized by Jordanian security forces.
Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour confirmed two critically wounded individuals. King Abdullah II stated on X that Jordan would face this terrorist act with stringent penalties, expressing condolences and wishes for the wounded’s recovery. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan attributed the attack to extremist ideologies, vowing punishment and legal action against extremism proponents.
Condemnations emerged from the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Oman. Al-Azhar’s grand imam Ahmed al-Tayeb termed the attack a “heinous terrorist attack,” offering condolences. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein voiced solidarity with Jordan, while U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced the attack during a funeral as “especially heinous,” urging accountability for the perpetrators.