Jordan Interior Minister Confirms Extremist Attack on Karak Church
Three gunmen killed seven people and wounded 34 others during a funeral in Hammoud, triggering a nationwide manhunt.
By Marco Graham ·
Three armed men killed seven people and wounded 34 others on Friday during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud. The attack occurred in Karak governorate, a region located 110 miles south of Amman that hosts a large Christian population. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya identified the perpetrators as a group of extremists in a press conference held after the incident.
The assailants arrived in a single vehicle and exited as a funeral procession gathered. According to the public security directorate, the gunmen stormed the church compound and opened fire with pistols and a long gun. State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka aired footage showing two attackers in casual clothing advancing from a street entrance while a third fired. An eyewitness told the broadcaster that the firing continued without pause for five minutes before the attackers fled. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present and noted that most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old.
Jordan has experienced violence in the Karak region before. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police near a Crusader castle, killing ten people including seven officers. Security forces ended that standoff by killing the attackers. The current incident marks a rare assault on Christians in the majority Sunni Muslim country.
King Abdullah II announced a plan for the harshest retaliation on social media. He stated that every Jordanian life is precious and vowed to strike with an iron fist against those threatening the nation. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the only Christian head of state in the Arab world, condemned the event as a heinous terrorist attack. A statement from his presidency added that terrorism aims to strike at coexistence and spread strife.
Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces are currently investigating the site. A manhunt for the three perpetrators is underway. The public security directorate confirmed that the search is active across the region. No claim of responsibility had been issued by a specific group as of the latest updates.
The attack disrupted the funeral services in Hammoud. Local officials coordinated with security teams to secure the church perimeter. Medical teams treated the 34 wounded at nearby facilities. The community continues to process the loss while authorities work to identify the suspects.
