At least 7 people killed in unprecedented shooting at church in Jordan
Deadly Church Attack Shocks Jordanian Community in Karak
Healfromzero.com – Jordan is reeling after gunmen opened fire at a church in the southern Karak province, killing at least seven people and injuring 40 others during a funeral gathering. The attack at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the town of Hmoud has been described by officials as a terrorist act and stands out in a country where sectarian violence is uncommon.
Authorities said the attackers had not been captured by Friday afternoon. Jordan’s public security agency said the targets were Christians attending the funeral of a member of their community. The number of victims changed several times as emergency services assessed the scene and hospitals treated the wounded.
Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two injured people were in critical condition. Witness accounts indicated that the assault continued for several minutes, leaving mourners scrambling for shelter inside and around the church.
Funeral Gathering Turns Into Scene of Panic
More than 150 people were believed to have been in or near the church when the shooting began. Hmoud has had a largely Christian population for centuries, and people had gathered on Friday to pay their respects to a community member.
Tamer Halasa, who witnessed the attack, said people were outside the church before the gunmen arrived.
“Some guys were standing outside the church before two people got out of a vehicle and started shooting.”
He said the gathering included people both inside the building and in the surrounding area.
“We were more than 150 people inside and outside the church.”
Another witness said one of the attackers carried an AK-47 assault rifle. Security-camera video shared online appeared to show three gunmen firing on a street before moving toward the church.
A survivor said the gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they fired toward the church courtyard, where many mourners had been standing. She described hiding behind the altar with others in an effort to survive.
“It was a massacre … I did not imagine I would get out alive.”
She said the victims had come together to mourn, making the violence especially devastating for the small local community.
“They struck people who were gathered to grieve and mourn.”
“I never ever imagined anything like this would ever happen anywhere in Jordan.”
Jordanian Leaders Promise Firm Response
King Abdullah condemned the shooting as a terrorist act and said those responsible would face a forceful national response.
“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 government institutions were working to identify and prosecute the perpetrators. He linked the attack to extremist ideology rooted in takfir, the practice of declaring other people to be infidels.
“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 declared three days of national mourning. Flags at government and public buildings will be flown at half-staff during that period.
The attack carries particular weight in Jordan, where Christians account for about 2% of the population and where sectarian attacks have been rare. Karak, a southern province with deep historical significance, includes communities in which Christian and Muslim residents have lived alongside one another for generations. The shooting has therefore raised concerns not only over security but also over an assault on the country’s social cohesion.
Regional Condemnation and Heightened Security
Officials and religious institutions across the region issued statements condemning the violence and offering condolences to bereaved families, survivors and the people of Hmoud.
The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem expressed sympathy for those affected and emphasized the importance of Jordanian unity in confronting violence and division.
“The national cohesion of the Jordanian people serves as a vital safeguard against terrorism, extremism, and any attempts to sow division or discord.”
Cairo’s Al-Azhar Institute also denounced the attack. Its Grand Imam, Ahmed Al-Tayeb, said the killing violated the principles shared by Abrahamic faiths.
“This crime contradicts the teachings of the Abrahamic religions and reveals that its perpetrators are devoid of all compassion, humanity and morality.”
The Iraqi government said the shooting demonstrated that terrorism remains “a root of evil” that Iraqis have faced with determination and strength.
The United States embassy in Jordan offered condolences to the victims and survivors and said it stood in solidarity with King Abdullah. It also warned that people in Jordan could see increased police deployments in areas including shopping malls and foreign embassies in Amman.
The embassy urged US citizens to remain cautious and to watch for urgent developments from Jordanian authorities, including the Directorate of Public Security.
For residents of Hmoud and families affected by the attack, the immediate focus remains on the dead, the injured and the search for those who carried out the shooting. For Jordan more broadly, the response will test its determination to protect vulnerable communities and preserve the national unity its leaders have repeatedly identified as a defense against extremism.
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