Karak Church Funeral Hit by Gunmen
Nine died and 40 were wounded at St. George's Greek Orthodox church on Friday, prompting a nationwide security search in Jordan.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Security forces deployed to the streets of Karak governorate on Saturday after a violent attack on a Christian congregation. The Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, ordered an immediate nationwide sweep to locate the perpetrators following the Friday incident. The operation involves a coordinated effort by the Public Security Directorate and other agencies to find the three men responsible for the shooting.
The shooting occurred during a funeral service at St. George's Greek Orthodox church in the town of Hamoud. According to the Health Ministry, nine people lost their lives and 40 others sustained injuries. Maj. Gen. Abdallah al-Maaytah, head of the Public Security Directorate, reported that most of the wounded were receiving medical treatment. He stated that the search for the attackers remained active as of Friday.
Footage from a security camera at the church showed three individuals firing from a pavement. They used trees and a low wall for cover before moving toward the building's entrance. Reuters verified the video by matching the entry path and surrounding structures. Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh described the attackers as extremists. He noted that it was too early to determine if they had connections to known groups inside or outside Jordan. No organization had claimed responsibility for the attack by Friday.
Witnesses described a scene of chaos inside the church. Priest Theodoros Soueiss told those present to get down as bullets flew. He described the gunfire as indiscriminate, noting that it was impossible to predict where a bullet might land. Khaled Burqan, who attended the funeral, said the gunmen fired for several minutes while dozens of people were present. Ihab Ammareen recalled seeing bloodied people collapse on the floor, describing the scene as one of crying and screaming.
King Abdullah visited Karak within hours of the attack. He promised that the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. He stated that those who attempt to divide Jordanians with bullets have no chance against national unity. On X, Prime Minister Hassan called the attack a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. The US Embassy in Amman announced on Saturday that security had been stepped up at malls, foreign embassies, and other locations across the country.
International leaders reacted to the violence on Saturday. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack, stating that violence against civilians and places of worship is unacceptable. Mike Waltz, the US Ambassador to the UN, called the incident a depraved and brutal attack on a house of worship. Jordan, a stable country and US ally, has foiled multiple attempted attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. The nation was also hit by Iranian attacks this year following strikes against Iran in February.
Outside a government hospital in Karak, family members gathered to support the wounded. Hani Al-Mbaydeen expressed the shock felt by many in the community. He said the state must investigate the source of the dark ideas that drive such attacks. He questioned how these ideas enter the minds of the country's children.
