At least 8 people killed in unprecedented shooting at church in Jordan
Deadly Church Attack Shocks Jordan’s Karak Province
Qwenews.com – Jordan has been shaken by a deadly shooting at a church in the southern province of Karak, where gunmen targeted mourners gathered for a funeral. At least eight people were killed and 40 others were injured in the attack at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the town of Hmoud.
Officials described the assault as a terrorist attack aimed at Christians attending the funeral. The gunmen had not been captured by Friday afternoon, and security forces were continuing their efforts to identify and apprehend those responsible.
The death toll changed repeatedly as authorities received new information from the scene and hospitals. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of the injured victims were in critical condition.
Gunmen Fired for Several Minutes
Witnesses described a prolonged and frightening attack. One person said an assailant carried an AK-47 rifle, while another survivor said the shooting continued for several minutes as gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar” and fired toward the church courtyard.
Many mourners had been standing in the courtyard when the attack began. Others were inside the church, where more than 150 people were believed to have been gathered in and around the building for the funeral service.
“It was a massacre … I did not imagine I would get out alive,”
A woman who survived the shooting said she and other mourners hid behind the altar while the attack unfolded. She said the victims had come together to grieve the death of a community member.
“They struck people who were gathered to grieve and mourn,”
She added that she had never imagined such violence could occur in Jordan.
Security-camera video shared online appeared to show three armed men firing in the street before moving toward the church. Another eyewitness, Tamer Halasa, said several men had been outside the building when two people got out of a vehicle and began shooting.
“We were more than 150 people inside and outside the church,”
Jordan’s Leaders Promise a Firm Response
King Abdullah condemned what he called a terrorist act and vowed a forceful response against those behind it. His statement reflected the scale of the national shock in a country where sectarian violence is uncommon.
“The blood of Jordanians is precious, and we will strike those who transgress against this country with an iron fist,”
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said state institutions were mobilized to ensure the perpetrators face justice. He linked the attack to extremist ideology rooted in takfir, the practice of declaring other people to be unbelievers.
“What happened in Karak was the result of extremist terrorist ideology rooted in takfir (declaring others to be infidels), and we will not allow society to go down this path,”
Hassan announced three days of national mourning. Flags are to be lowered to half-staff at government and public buildings during that period.
A Rare Sectarian Attack
The shooting was especially alarming because Jordan’s Christian community has long been part of the country’s social fabric. Christians make up about 2% of Jordan’s population, while Hmoud has been home to a predominantly Christian community for centuries.
Friday’s funeral at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church was meant to bring neighbors and relatives together in mourning. Instead, the attack transformed a religious gathering into one of the country’s most serious recent acts of violence targeting a Christian community.
Jordanian officials and regional figures issued swift condemnations, emphasizing national unity and rejecting efforts to inflame religious division. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem offered condolences to the victims’ families, Hmoud residents and all people affected by the shooting.
“The national cohesion of the Jordanian people serves as a vital safeguard against terrorism, extremism, and any attempts to sow division or discord,”
Al-Azhar Institute in Cairo also condemned the attack. Its Grand Imam, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, said the violence ran counter to the principles shared by the Abrahamic faiths.
“This crime contradicts the teachings of the Abrahamic religions and reveals that its perpetrators are devoid of all compassion, humanity and morality,”
Iraq’s government said the attack underscored the destructive nature of terrorism, recalling that Iraqis had endured and confronted such violence with determination and strength.
Security Presence Expected to Increase
The United States Embassy in Jordan expressed condolences to the victims and survivors and said it stood in solidarity with King Abdullah and the Jordanian people. It warned that Americans could see a heavier police presence in locations across the country, including shopping malls and foreign embassies in Amman.
The embassy urged US citizens to remain cautious and follow updates issued by Jordanian authorities, including the Directorate of Public Security.
As investigators work to establish the identities and motives of the attackers, the immediate focus in Karak remains on those killed, the dozens injured, and a community mourning after an attack on a place of worship. The response of Jordan’s authorities will be closely watched as the country seeks to protect public security and preserve the religious coexistence that officials have stressed is central to its national life.
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