A shooting attack at a church in Hmoud, in the Karak governorate, resulted in seven deaths and at least 34 injuries, according to officials. The incident occurred during a funeral service on Friday. Unidentified gunmen arrived by vehicle, entered the church, and discharged firearms before departing the scene. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya characterized the perpetrators as a “group of extremists” and stated that authorities were pursuing their apprehension. King Abdullah II declared that the nation would confront the incident “with the harshest penalties.” Al-Faraya described the attack as “painful and horrific” and referenced it as unprecedented in Jordan’s history. Video evidence verified by the BBC showed three armed individuals approaching and entering the church grounds.
Accounts from eyewitnesses depicted scenes of chaos and panic inside the building. One person present described approximately 15 minutes of gunfire, with attendees scrambling for cover beneath pews and attempting to evacuate. Another witness characterized the noise as resembling warfare, with subsequent descriptions of bodies visible in the church courtyards. Multiple witnesses reported that the attackers departed in a pickup truck while continuing to fire weapons.
The incident triggered heightened security measures at local medical facilities where injured persons received treatment. The atmosphere at hospitals became tense as families mourned victims and the injured received care. King Abdullah II visited the facility to assess the condition of the wounded. Some residents expressed concerns about security approaches toward extremist threats.
Karak is home to a substantial Christian population within predominantly Muslim Jordan. Deadly attacks remain uncommon in the country, though similar violent incidents have occurred previously. International response included a statement from Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemning the attack as a violation of religious and humanitarian principles.
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