The death toll from a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak Governorate rose to eight on Saturday, October 24, after one of the injured victims died while receiving treatment. Around 40 people were reported injured in the attack, which took place during a funeral service on Friday.
The shooting occurred at a church in the village of Hammoud, about 180 kilometers south of Amman. According to witnesses and local media reports, a vehicle carrying armed assailants arrived at the scene before the gunmen opened fire on people gathered for the funeral. Around 150 to 200 people were reportedly in and around the church at the time. Witnesses said the shooting began about 15 minutes after the ceremony started and continued for several minutes.
CCTV footage broadcast by Jordan’s state television channel, Al-Mamlaka, showed three armed men approaching the church and opening fire. Some witnesses reported seeing four attackers, but authorities have not confirmed the total number involved. Security forces launched a search for the suspects, and no group had claimed responsibility for the attack in the latest reports.
King Abdullah II condemned the attack and vowed firm action against those responsible. The government described the shooting as a terrorist act linked to extremist ideology, although investigators had not publicly established whether the attackers were connected to any known organization. Security was tightened at key locations as authorities continued their investigation.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack. His spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, said targeting people during a funeral at a place of worship was particularly heinous and called for those responsible to be held accountable. Jordan declared three days of national mourning following the shooting.
The attack has shocked a country where large-scale shootings targeting religious gatherings are rare. Jordan is home to a Christian minority and several sites of significance to Christianity. Authorities have urged the public to rely on official information as investigations continue.
