Three Gunmen Fire for 15 Minutes at Jordan Church, Killing Seven
Officials confirmed the death toll after initial reports fluctuated, while the King promised harsh penalties for the attackers.
By Sarah Montgomery ·
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya announced on October 23 that authorities are actively pursuing a group of extremists responsible for killing seven people and injuring at least 34 others. The attack occurred on Friday at a church in Hmoud, within the Karak governorate of central Jordan. Al-Faraya described the incident as painful and horrific, stating it was unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
King Abdullah II stated that officials would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. The official death count has been inconsistent since the shooting began. Early reports indicated seven fatalities, a government spokesperson later revised this number to six, and officials subsequently returned to the original figure of seven.
Verified CCTV footage shows three armed men approaching the church from a road. Two individuals entered what appears to be a vehicle entrance, retreated briefly, and re-emerged with a third man. All three were carrying handguns. Additional footage from the aftermath depicts dead and wounded individuals on the ground amidst chaotic scenes. No specific group or individual has claimed responsibility for the violence.
Witnesses recounted the panic inside the building as people hid under pews and moved away from windows. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present, stated the attack lasted approximately 15 minutes. He noted that people tried to flee while gunfire was still active. The gunmen exited through the doors and escaped in a pickup truck while firing their weapons.
Another witness described the sound as if a war had just started. A woman inside the church reported that gunfire began seconds after a prayer. She said the situation escalated for 10 continuous minutes. Upon exiting, she observed bodies in the courtyards. Security forces closed nearby roads, forcing pedestrians to walk to hospitals. The area remained tense with crying and shouting as families gathered.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a heinous terrorist attack. He said the violence violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners. Aoun stated that the incident contradicts all religious and humanitarian values. The King is scheduled to visit the injured in Karak, where security has been tightened ahead of his arrival.
Jordan is a majority Muslim country with a sizeable Christian community in Karak. While deadly attacks have occurred in the past, such violence is rare in the region. Residents expressed shock and anger at the scene. Some voiced frustration at what they described as a failure to take a tougher approach towards terrorists in the area.
