Jordanian King Vows Maximum Punishment After Karak Funeral Shooting
Three days of national mourning were declared after gunmen killed seven people and injured 40 at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak.
By Rafael Esposito ·
Karak, a town in southern Jordan, experienced a violent disruption of a religious service on Friday. Gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church, killing seven attendees and wounding 40 others during a funeral.
State television footage captured the moment of the attack. Two men holding pistols advanced toward the building and began firing. A third individual, carrying a semiautomatic rifle, joined them in shooting before all three ran inside the structure. Witness videos later showed broken glass and blood on the church floor.
Dorgham Halasa, a mourner inside the building, recalled the chaos. He stated that intense gunfire erupted roughly 15 minutes after the service started, causing people to flee. Halasa described the scene as strange, noting that while he did not see the shooters, others reported spotting four figures. Security services have not yet confirmed the exact number of assailants.
The government initially described the perpetrators as unknown. Officials said investigations were proceeding rapidly, though they did not specify if any suspects had been captured. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour reported that two of the injured patients remain in critical condition.
King Abdullah II responded on social media, stating the nation would face the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. He offered condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a swift recovery for the wounded. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, speaking at a security meeting in Karak, blamed the attack on terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He promised legal measures against those who try to push such views into the country.
Karak has a small Christian community and has faced violence before. In 2016, gunmen attacked police in the area, including at a Crusader castle, resulting in ten deaths and dozens of injuries. Security forces eventually killed the attackers after a long standoff.
Leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Oman expressed their condolences. Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar, called the shooting a heinous terrorist attack. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein spoke with his Jordanian counterpart to affirm solidarity. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the act, noting it was especially heinous because it occurred during a funeral. His spokesman said the UN called for the responsible parties to be found and held to account.
Source: NPR
