Seven people have been killed and at least 34 others injured after gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in central Jordan, according to officials.
The attack occurred on Friday at a Greek Orthodox church in Hmoud, in the Karak governorate. Witnesses said between 150 and 200 people were inside the building when the shooting began.
Authorities said the unidentified attackers arrived by car, entered the church and opened fire before fleeing. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Authorities Vow to Pursue Suspects
Jordan’s Interior Minister, Mazen al-Faraya, said security forces were working to apprehend the perpetrators, describing them as a “group of extremists”.
He called the incident “painful and horrific” and said it was unprecedented in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
King Abdullah II condemned the attack and vowed that authorities would confront what he described as a terrorist act targeting Karak, promising the harshest penalties.
Officials initially reported seven deaths, before a government spokesperson revised the toll to six. The death toll was later returned to seven.
CCTV footage verified by the BBC appears to show three armed men approaching the church grounds from a nearby road. Two initially move towards what appears to be a vehicle entrance before briefly retreating and returning with a third man. All three appear to be carrying handguns.
Separate footage believed to have been filmed after the shooting shows people lying dead or wounded on the ground.
Witnesses Describe Scenes of Panic
Survivors described terrifying scenes as mourners scrambled for cover, hid beneath church pews and moved away from windows while gunfire echoed through the building.
Khalid al-Mdanat, who was inside the church, told BBC Arabic that the attack lasted approximately 15 minutes, with people attempting to escape while the shooting continued.
“People began pushing and throwing themselves to the ground,” he said.
He described people taking cover, comforting their children, holding injured or dead loved ones and trying to flee.
Al-Mdanat said the gunmen escaped through the church doors and drove away in a pickup truck, firing as they left.
Another witness said the shooting initially sounded like a war had broken out. Believing at first that there had been an electrical fault, the witness looked around and saw wounded people lying on the ground.
A woman who was attending the funeral said the sound of gunfire and breaking glass followed shortly after a prayer.
People began screaming as the situation escalated. After escaping the building, she said, she saw bodies scattered across the church courtyards.
Security Tightened as Families Mourn Victims
Security forces established a heavy presence around a hospital treating those injured in the attack. Roads near the facility were closed, forcing some visitors to leave their vehicles and continue on foot.
Tensions remained high as relatives gathered to mourn the dead and seek information about the injured. Crying and shouting could be heard around the hospital, while many residents appeared shocked, frightened and angry.
Some expressed frustration over what they viewed as an inadequate response to extremist violence.
Security measures were also strengthened ahead of King Abdullah II’s visit to check on the injured.
Violence Uncommon in Jordan
Karak, located in central Jordan, has a sizeable Christian community in a country where Muslims make up the majority of the population.
Although attacks of this nature are rare in Jordan, the country has experienced deadly violence in the past.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting, describing it as a “heinous terrorist attack”. According to Lebanese media, he said the assault violated the sanctity of death and the mourning process and contradicted religious and humanitarian values.
Authorities have not publicly identified the gunmen, and investigations into the attack are continuing.
