Seven dead in shooting at funeral in central Jordan

Seven people died and at least 34 others were injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in central Jordan on Friday.

The attack occurred in Hmoud, located in the Karak governorate. Officials stated that unidentified attackers arrived by car, entered the building, and shot at the congregation before fleeing. No group or individual has claimed responsibility for the incident.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed a news conference, describing the perpetrators as a group of extremists. He characterized the event as painful and horrific, noting that it was unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. King Abdullah II declared that authorities would confront the act with the harshest penalties. Initial reports on the death toll varied, with figures fluctuating between six and seven before settling on seven.

Verified CCTV footage shows three men approaching the church on foot. Two of them enter what appears to be a vehicle entrance, retreat briefly, and then rejoin a third man. All three are seen carrying handguns. Other footage from the scene captures the aftermath, showing dead and wounded individuals lying on the ground.

Witnesses recounted a scene of panic inside the church. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present, told BBC Arabic that the shooting lasted about 15 minutes. He described people trying to flee while gunfire was still active. 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 said the gunfire began seconds after a prayer and that bodies were scattered in the courtyards when she exited.

Security forces closed roads near a hospital in Karak to treat the wounded. King Abdullah II visited the injured, and security was tightened for the occasion. Families gathered at the hospital, expressing shock and anger. Some residents voiced frustration over what they described as a failure to take a tougher approach against terrorists.

Karak has a sizeable Christian community within the majority Muslim nation. While such violence is rare in Jordan, deadly attacks have occurred previously. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a heinous terrorist attack. He stated that it violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners, according to Lebanese media.