Gunmen Breach Karak Church and Kill Seven During Funeral

Central Jordan has experienced a rare instance of mass violence, with seven people killed and at least 34 injured on Friday when gunmen attacked a funeral service in Hmoud. The incident occurred in the Karak governorate, a region with a notable Christian population within the majority Muslim country.

Authorities have not yet identified the specific individuals responsible. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya described the perpetrators as a group of extremists during a news conference. He characterized the event as painful, horrific, and unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. King Abdullah II subsequently stated that officials would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. Early reports on the death toll fluctuated, with a government spokesperson initially citing six casualties before officials confirmed the final count of seven.

Verified CCTV footage shows three men approaching the church from a road. Two of the men entered a vehicle entrance on the grounds, retreated briefly, and then reappeared with a third individual. All three appeared to be carrying handguns. Separate footage captured the aftermath, showing dead and wounded individuals lying on the ground in chaotic conditions.

Witnesses inside the building reported a state of panic. Attendees threw themselves under pews and moved away from windows while prayers and screams echoed through the structure. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present, stated the attack lasted approximately 15 minutes. He noted that people attempted to flee while shooting was still active. Al-Mdanat said the gunmen exited through the main doors and escaped in a pickup truck while firing. Another witness described the sound as if a war had started. A woman inside reported that gunfire began seconds after a prayer and continued to escalate for 10 continuous minutes before she exited to find bodies in the courtyards.

Security forces established a heavy presence at a hospital in Karak treating the wounded. Roads nearby were closed, forcing many people to park their vehicles and walk to the facility. Security was tightened further in preparation for a visit by King Abdullah II to see the injured. Families gathered at the entrance, displaying tears and shouting in grief. Many residents expressed shock and anger, with some voicing frustration over what they termed a failure to adopt a tougher approach toward terrorists.

Lebanon’s President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident as a heinous terrorist attack. According to Lebanese media, Aoun stated that the violence violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners. He added that the attack contradicts all religious and humanitarian values. No group has formally claimed responsibility for the shooting in Hmoud.