Gunmen attack church funeral in Jordan, killing seven
Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40 others, authorities said, reports BritPanorama.
The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of the capital, Amman.
Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen appearing to hold pistols approaching the church and firing shots. A third man, also armed, then joined the fray, and all three ran towards the church.
Video footage taken by witnesses shows broken glass and pools of blood on the floor of the church.
Dorgham Halasa, a mourner inside the church, said intense gunfire erupted 15 minutes after the funeral had started, causing panic among the attendees. “It was a weird situation, and heavy gunfire,” Halasa said.
While Halasa did not see the gunmen, he mentioned that other witnesses reported seeing four of them. The Associated Press could not independently verify the number of assailants, and Jordan’s security services did not immediately release further details.
A government statement described the attack as “carried out by unknown assailants” but provided no information on the fate of the gunmen. The statement continued that “investigations are underway at full speed.”
In the wake of the attack, Jordan declared three days of national mourning, according to the kingdom’s Petra News Agency.
Karak is known for its minority Christian population, which has faced threats in the past. In 2016, a series of attacks in the area resulted in the deaths of 10 people, including seven police officers.
Jordan’s Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour reported that two of those wounded are in critical condition.
King Abdullah II condemned the attack, asserting that Jordan “will confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties.” He extended condolences to the families of the victims and wishes for recovery to the wounded.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan stated during a security meeting that the attack stemmed from terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He promised that those behind the attack would face punishment and that measures would be taken against those promoting extremism.
Responses condemning the attack came from multiple countries in the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Oman.
Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, expressed condolences to the families of the victims, labeling the shooting a “heinous terrorist attack.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein reiterated Iraq’s support for Jordan in combating terrorism during a conversation with his Jordanian counterpart.
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres characterized the attack during a funeral as “especially heinous,” emphasizing the need for accountability for those responsible.
The events in Karak underscore ongoing vulnerabilities within Jordan as it grapples with threats of violence amid regional instability.
