Gunmen kill seven at Jordanian church funeral

Seven people died and at least 34 others were injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a funeral service in Hmoud, Jordan, on Friday. The attack took place in a church within the Karak governorate, a region known for its sizeable Christian population in the majority Muslim country.

Officials stated that the assailants arrived by car, entered the building, and engaged in a shootout that lasted approximately 15 minutes before they fled. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the violence. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed the press, labeling the perpetrators a group of extremists. He characterized the incident as painful and horrific, noting its place in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom.

King Abdullah II vowed that authorities would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. The death toll fluctuated in initial reports, with a government spokesperson briefly citing six fatalities before officials confirmed the final count of seven. Verified CCTV footage shows three men approaching the church from a road. Two men initially enter a vehicle entrance, retreat, and return with a third. All three appear to carry handguns.

Witnesses described scenes of panic inside the church as attendees sought cover under pews and away from windows. Khalid al-Mdanat, a man present at the service, told BBC Arabic that the shooting continued for 15 minutes. He noted that people attempted to flee while gunfire was still active. Al-Mdanat reported that the gunmen exited through the main doors and escaped in a pickup truck, firing as they drove away.

Another witness compared the noise to the start of a war. A woman inside the church said the gunfire began seconds after a prayer and that the situation escalated for ten continuous minutes. Upon exiting the building, she observed bodies scattered in the courtyards. Security forces established a heavy presence at a hospital in Karak to treat the wounded. Roads near the facility were closed, forcing vehicles to park as people walked to the entrance.

Security was further tightened ahead of a visit by King Abdullah II to see the injured. The atmosphere remained tense, with families crying and shouting. Some residents expressed frustration, calling the event a failure to adopt a tougher approach toward terrorists. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident as a heinous terrorist attack that violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners.

Violence of this nature is rare in Jordan, though deadly attacks have occurred in the past. The incident has drawn international attention, with leaders emphasizing the violation of humanitarian values during a time of mourning.