Jordan church funeral attack leaves six dead and dozens injured in Karak

Gunmen have killed six people and injured 28 others after opening fire during a funeral service at a church in central Jordan, government officials reported on Friday.

The fatal shooting took place in the village of Hmoud, situated within the southern governorate of Karak. Security forces launched a widespread manhunt to locate the perpetrators, who fled the scene following the assault.

According to government spokesperson Dr Mohammad al-Momani, unidentified assailants reached the site by car, walked into the building, and unleashed gunfire on the congregation. He condemned the incident, labelling it a heinous attack.

Witnesses described moments of panic inside the sanctuary. One mourner, Khaled Burqan, told state broadcaster al-Mamlaka that dozens of individuals were attending the funeral when two armed men entered, carrying a rifle and a handgun, and fired on attendees for multiple minutes. Another witness speaking to AFP estimated that between 150 and 200 people were inside the church at the time of the shooting.

Surveillance camera footage verified by the BBC recorded three armed individuals moving from a nearby street toward the church complex. The video shows two men approaching what looks like a vehicle entrance, stepping back temporarily, and then walking forward alongside a third suspect, with all three appearing to hold handguns. Subsequent recordings taken after the incident showed scenes of distress, with casualties lying on the floor.

Jordan's King Abdullah II issued a stern response, vowing that the state will apply the most severe penalties against those responsible for what he characterized as a terrorist act in Karak. Writing on the social media platform X, the monarch stressed that acts of violence would not succeed in fracturing the unity of the Jordanian people.

Jordanian authorities announced that the prime minister would lead an emergency meeting of the Security Council, with all cabinet ministers participating, ahead of an expected public briefing by the interior ministry.

International condemnation followed the violence. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun denounced the incident, stating that the assault violated the sanctity of life and mourning while contradicting humanitarian and religious principles.

No faction or organization immediately claimed responsibility for the bloodshed. While Karak contains a prominent Christian population within the predominantly Muslim kingdom, violent attacks of this scale remain uncommon in Jordan.