Seven dead in Jordan church shooting
Gunmen opened fire during a funeral in Karak, wounding 34 others in an attack authorities called rare for the region.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
At least seven people died and 34 others were wounded when gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday. The shooting occurred in the village of Hammoud, located within Karak governorate.
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya told reporters that a group of extremists carried out the assault. He stated that security forces are currently conducting a manhunt for the perpetrators.
The public security directorate reported that the attackers exited a vehicle and entered the church compound while a funeral procession was underway. They opened fire immediately upon arrival.
Footage broadcast by the state network Al-Mamlaka showed three men with firearms. Two held pistols while the third carried a long gun. They fired from a street entrance before moving deeper into the site.
An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the attackers fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present. Most of the deceased were between the ages of 50 and 70.
King Abdullah II vowed to strike with an iron fist against those threatening the nation. He declared on social media that every Jordanian life is precious. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun labeled the incident a heinous terrorist attack aimed at spreading strife.
Karak, situated 110 miles south of Amman, has a large Christian population. The region saw deadly violence in 2016 when gunmen ambushed police near a Crusader castle. Ten people died in that incident, including seven officers.
