At Least Six Killed in Jordan Church Shooting During Funeral in Karak

At least six people were killed and 28 others were injured when gunmen opened fire inside a church in Jordan during a funeral on Friday, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said. The Jordan church shooting took place in Karak governorate, about 90 miles south of the capital, Amman, and the attackers remained at large as security forces pursued them.

FAKTA: Jordan church shooting in Karak

• What happened: Gunmen opened fire inside a church in Karak governorate during a funeral service.
• Casualties: At least six people killed and 28 injured, according to Jordan’s Public Security Directorate, the latest official figure.
• Where: St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hmood, a predominantly Christian town in northern Karak, about 90 miles south of Amman.
• Attackers: Described by the authorities as unidentified gunmen; no arrests had been announced and no motive had been established.
• Official response: Security forces were deployed and were pursuing the gunmen, government spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani said.

Jordan church shooting during a funeral

The shooting happened as mourners had gathered at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Hmood to mourn the passing of a community member, CNN reported. Dozens of people were believed to be inside the church at the time, according to witnesses quoted by state media.

“We were more than 150 people inside and outside the church,” eyewitness Tamer Halsa told state-run Al-Mamlaka television. Halsa said some men were standing outside the church before two people got out of a vehicle and started shooting.

A witness told Al-Mamlaka that one attacker was carrying an AK-47 rifle and that the shooting continued for several minutes. Security camera footage circulating on social media showed three gunmen opening fire on the street before heading toward the church, CNN reported.

Conflicting early casualty reports

Early reports from Jordanian state media had put the death toll at seven, and the BBC also reported seven killed, with about 10 injured, in its initial account. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate later issued a revised figure of at least six people killed and 28 injured. CNN reported that it was not immediately clear what led to the discrepancy between the figures.

Because the story is still developing, the casualty figures may change again as the authorities release further verified information.

Security forces pursue the gunmen

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said the unidentified gunmen were being pursued, and the government spokesperson said security forces were following up on the incident in Karak Governorate. Officials urged the public to rely only on official channels for verified information while the investigation continued.

Officials had not identified the suspects by name, announced any arrests, or established a motive for the attack. Nothing in the official statements so far indicates whether the gathering itself or specific individuals were targeted.

For more coverage from the region, see Watan News’ Middle East news.