Gunmen Kill at Least Six in Attack on Jordanian Church
Assailants opened fire at a packed church in southern Jordan, wounding 28 others in a rare attack on the country's Christian minority.
Gunmen killed at least six people and wounded 28 others when they opened fire on a church in southern Jordan on Friday. The attack targeted a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud, located in the Karak governorate, during a funeral procession.
Authorities reported that the assailants arrived in a vehicle and began firing upon the church compound. Initial reports indicated seven fatalities, but this number was later revised to six by the public security directorate. A manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.
Footage broadcast by state television showed two individuals armed with pistols and a third with a long gun firing from the street into the church entrance before advancing. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the assault.
Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani stated that security forces are investigating the incident, and King Abdullah of Jordan vowed that those responsible would be punished severely. An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the gunmen fired continuously for approximately five minutes before fleeing.
Between 150 and 200 people were present at the church during the attack, according to the eyewitness, who added that most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old.
The Karak region is known for its significant Christian community, which constitutes roughly two to three percent of Jordan's population. Christians have a historical presence in the area dating back over 1,500 years and, despite being a minority, hold guaranteed parliamentary seats and have served in ministerial and ambassadorial roles.
Jordan is home to several biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims. The attack has been condemned by Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, who described it as a "heinous terrorist attack" that "reaffirms once again that terrorism has no religion and no homeland, and its aim is to strike at coexistence and spread strife."
Attacks on places of worship are uncommon in Jordan. In 2016, an attack in Karak targeted a security center and police patrols, resulting in multiple fatalities, including security personnel and a tourist. Militants involved in that incident were later killed after a standoff in the historic Karak castle.