Eight killed in daytime church shooting in Jordan
King Abdullah orders a firm security response after gunmen fired during a funeral in Karak, wounding 40 others.
By Tyler Khalil ·
Violence has struck a Christian community in western Jordan, prompting a national emergency response.
Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak on Friday. The attack left eight people dead and wounded 40 others. The incident occurred in broad daylight, roughly 120 kilometers southwest of the capital, Amman.
King Abdullah directed security forces to hunt down the perpetrators and respond firmly. The royal court confirmed that the king traveled to Karak within hours of the shooting. He stated that those responsible would be punished with an iron fist. Jordan has declared three days of national mourning in response to the tragedy.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan described the event as a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He wrote on social media that the nation would not allow society to follow that path. Officials labeled the incident an act of extremist terrorism. They noted that it is too early to determine if the attackers have ties to specific groups inside or outside the country. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting.
Survivors described a chaotic scene as bullets flew through the church. Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived the attack, told Reuters that one gunman stood about two meters away and aimed a handgun at him. After the gunfire stopped, al-Burqan looked out a window and saw two assailants. One was masked, while the other carried a handgun and remained unmasked. His son, who was also at the mass, was shot in the leg and is receiving hospital treatment.
Security measures have intensified across the country following the attack. The US embassy in Amman reported increased patrols at shopping malls, foreign embassies, and other sites. Police were seen patrolling outside the church in video footage released on Saturday. Authorities are still searching for the individuals responsible for the shooting.
Local leaders and family members expressed shock and grief at the loss of life. Tarek Ammarin, whose relative was injured, called the event a massacre in every sense of the word. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village in Karak, condemned the attack as wicked. He expressed hope that the country would remain safe. The Karak region is home to a minority Christian population. Jordan contains several biblical sites that attract Christian pilgrims from around the world.
Such attacks are rare in the US-allied kingdom. Jordanian authorities say they have repeatedly foiled plots in recent years by violent groups driven by a strict interpretation of Islam. The kingdom remains a key partner for the United States in the fight against armed groups in the region. The death toll stands at eight, with 40 others treated for injuries sustained in the gunfire.
