Gunmen opened fire at a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, on Friday, killing seven people and injuring 40 others. The incident spurred a government inquiry, and King Abdullah II promised severe punishment for anyone guilty.
Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour reported that two of the injured were in critical condition. The authorities did not immediately confirm if any suspects had been apprehended or killed.
Karak is approximately 180 km south of Amman, Jordan’s capital. The town has a minority Christian population, and the shooting occurred as mourners were gathered for the burial.
Jordan Church Shooting Leaves 7 Dead in Karak
Dorgham Halasa, a mourner inside the church, stated that the firing began around 15 minutes after the funeral began. He characterised the scenario as strange, and claimed people began fleeing as the gunshots started.
Halasa did not witness the assailants for himself. However, he said that other persons saw four gunmen. The number of assailants could not be reliably confirmed, and Jordanian security authorities had not provided more information.
Jordanian official television footage appears to show two individuals approaching the church with weapons and firing. A third man, who appeared to be equipped with a semi-automatic rifle, arrived and began fire, before the three fled to the church.
The Jordanian authorities identified the perpetrators as unknown assailants and stated investigations were underway. The message did not specify if the suspects were caught or killed.
The shooting focused attention on security in Karak, which had a devastating series of attacks in 2016. Gunmen ambushed police officers at a number of sites, including a major tourist destination, Crusader Castle. These assaults killed ten people, including seven cops and a Canadian tourist, and wounded many more. After a protracted confrontation, security personnel finally killed the militants.
Jordan Church Shooting Draws King Abdullah’s Response
King Abdullah II denounced the attack and vowed a forceful reaction. In a message put on X, he stated that Jordan will prosecute the crime against Karak with the most severe punishments. He also sent his sympathies to the dead’ families and wished those injured a swift recovery.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan spoke about the event during a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening. He blamed the incident on terrorist ideology and extremist ideas, and warned that the culprits will face consequences. He also stated that legal action will be taken against individuals attempting to disseminate extremism.
Jordan proclaimed three days of national mourning following the killings, according to the kingdom’s Petra News Agency.
The act was also condemned by countries throughout the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Oman. Iraq’s Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein spoke with his Jordanian colleague and expressed Iraq’s support for Jordan in combating terrorism, according to a statement from Hussein’s office.
The United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, strongly denounced the shooting. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, described an attack during a funeral as particularly cruel, and Guterres urged everyone involved to be identified and held accountable.
Investigators were yet to disclose any information on the suspects or explain the circumstances behind the shooting. The immediate priority identified by officials were finding those responsible and dealing with the aftermath of the incident, which killed seven people and injured 40 others.
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