Gunfire at Jordan Church Kills Seven, Injures 34 in 15-Minute Ambush
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya labels the attackers a group of extremists as King Abdullah II orders the harshest penalties for the Karak incident.
By Thiago Kovalenko ·
Three4 people sustained injuries during a 15-minute shooting spree that left seven mourners dead at a church in Hmoud, Jordan. The violence unfolded on Friday within the Karak governorate, where officials confirmed the death toll after initial reports fluctuated between six and seven victims.
Authorities described the assault as a coordinated ambush by unidentified gunmen. According to Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya, the attackers arrived by car, entered the building, and opened fire before fleeing the scene. He characterized the perpetrators as a "group of extremists" and called the event "painful and horrific" in a statement to reporters. No individual or organization has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
Verified CCTV footage captures the sequence of events from a nearby road. The recording shows three men approaching the church, two of whom enter a vehicle entrance before retreating. They are joined by a third man, and all three appear to be carrying handguns. Other video from the aftermath depicts bodies and wounded individuals scattered across the grounds in chaotic conditions.
Witnesses inside the building reported intense panic as the shooting began seconds after a prayer. Khalid al-Mdanat, a person present at the church, stated that the gunfire continued for approximately 15 minutes. He noted that attendees attempted to escape while the shooting was still active. The witnesses described the gunmen exiting through the main doors and departing in a pickup truck while continuing to fire.
One attendee recalled hearing noise that sounded like a war had started. Another woman described the situation as escalating for 10 continuous minutes. She reported seeing bodies in the courtyards upon exiting the building. Families of the victims gathered at a hospital in Karak, where heavy security forces closed nearby roads, forcing commuters to park and walk. Residents expressed anger and shock, with some criticizing previous approaches to dealing with terrorism in the region.
King Abdullah II responded by directing authorities to confront the act with the harshest penalties available. The Karak area is home to one of the larger Christian communities in the predominantly Muslim country. Such targeted violence is infrequent but not new, as the nation has experienced deadly attacks in previous years.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident via media reports, calling it a "heinous terrorist attack" that violated the sanctity of funeral mourners. He stated that the violence contradicted all religious and humanitarian values, reflecting the regional shock caused by the targeting of a place of worship.
