Karak Church Attack: Gunmen Fire During Funeral in Jordan

Gunmen opened fire inside a church in Hmoud, located in the Karak governorate, on Friday morning, killing seven people and injuring at least 34 others. The violence erupted during a funeral service, catching mourners off guard as they gathered to honor a deceased member of the community. Officials confirmed the casualty count after initial reports varied between six and seven deaths.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed the public at a news conference, describing the incident as a "painful and horrific" event that was "unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." He identified the attackers as a "group of extremists" and stated that security forces were actively working to arrest them. King Abdullah II added that the government would "confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties," signaling a firm response to the breach of national security.

Video footage from security cameras shows three men approaching the church building from a nearby road. Two of the men enter what appears to be a vehicle entrance, briefly retreat, and then re-emerge with a third companion. All three individuals are seen carrying handguns. In separate clips from the aftermath, the courtyard is filled with the wounded and dead, capturing the chaotic scene immediately following the gunfire.

Witnesses described a scene of intense panic inside the sanctuary. Attendees dove under pews and moved away from windows to find cover, while prayers mixed with screams throughout the building. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present during the attack, told BBC Arabic that the shooting lasted for approximately 15 minutes. He noted that people attempted to flee while gunfire was still active, observing the gunmen exit through the main doors and escape in a pickup truck while firing behind them.

Another witness compared the sound of the gunfire to the start of a war. A woman inside the church reported that the shooting began seconds after a prayer, with the situation escalating for ten continuous minutes. Upon exiting the building, she observed bodies lying in the courtyards. The inconsistency in early death tolls, which shifted from six to seven, added to the confusion before officials finalized the count.

Security presence was heavy at the Karak hospital treating the injured, with nearby roads closed to allow patients to be transported on foot. King Abdullah II visited the hospital to meet with the wounded, tightening security in the area. Residents expressed shock and frustration, with some criticizing what they perceived as a lack of tougher measures against terrorists in the past. The attack stands out because Jordan, a majority Muslim country, has a large Christian community in Karak where such violence is rare.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident, calling it a "hexious terrorist attack" that violated the sanctity of funeral mourners. He stated that the violence contradicted all religious and humanitarian values, according to Lebanese media reports. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting, and authorities continue to search for the three gunmen involved.