Karak, 23 October. Unknown gunmen opened fire on mourners at a funeral at St George's Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud in Jordan's Karak governorate, killing seven people and injuring 27, Anadolu reports, citing Jordan's Public Security Directorate.
Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh called the attack a "terrorist operation".
According to the state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka, citing an unnamed source, two attackers got out of a vehicle and opened fire on the mourners. An eyewitness told the channel the shooting lasted about five minutes before the attackers fled; between 150 and 200 people were inside and outside the church at the time. The Public Security Directorate initially reported six dead and 28 injured.
"It is early to discuss the perpetrators and their affiliations," Al Farrayeh said, adding that the security agencies were working around the clock to track down the attackers. Amman Attorney General Hassan Abdallat banned all media and social networks, except official state media, from publishing information, photos or videos about the case. King Abdullah II wrote on X that the "terrorist attack" would be met with the "harshest retaliation": "Those who delude themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of our unity."
The attack was condemned by Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, as well as the Arab League and the Arab Interior Ministers Council. Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Fahmy called attacks on places of worship an unacceptable terrorist act. The Palestinian committee for church affairs called on churches to ring their bells on Friday evening and invited Muslims and Christians to a solidarity gathering on Sunday in Manger Square in Bethlehem.
What it means: In Jordan, people were shot at a Christian funeral in a church. The authorities are not yet saying who is behind it, and information about the investigation is closed to the press.
Who benefits: The sources name neither perpetrators nor organisers, so it is impossible to say who benefits from the attack. The king and Arab states stress that the response must be unity between Muslims and Christians.
Background: Karak is a governorate in southern Jordan. State television was first to report seven deaths, before the officials' news conference in Karak at which the final figures were given.
List of sources used: Anadolu, TASS
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
