Deadly Church Funeral Shooting in Jordan Leaves Seven Dead and Dozens Wounded
Gunmen open fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in Karak, Jordan, killing seven people and wounding 34 others as authorities launch investigations.
POLICY WIRE — Jerusalem, Israel — A tragic mass shooting unfolded during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan on Friday, leaving seven individuals dead and 34 others injured.
The violent incident occurred in Karak, situated roughly 180 kilometers or 110 miles south of the national capital of Amman.
Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television captured two armed individuals brandishing pistols and approaching the house of worship before opening fire. A third suspect, seemingly equipped with a semiautomatic rifle, subsequently joined the assault and discharged rounds before all three perpetrators fled toward the building.
Government officials released a statement indicating that unknown assailants carried out the offensive, though they did not clarify whether any suspects had been apprehended or neutralized. Authorities confirmed that comprehensive investigations are currently proceeding rapidly.
During a press briefing, Jordan’s director of public security, Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah, shared that 27 of the injured victims remained hospitalized for ongoing medical care.
King Abdullah II addressed the tragedy on the social media platform X, vowing that the nation will confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties. He further expressed his deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs alongside wishes for a swift recovery for all the wounded.
The city of Karak maintains a notable minority Christian population. A previous major security incident struck the area in 2016, when gunmen ambushed police forces across multiple locations including a Crusader castle frequented by tourists, resulting in 10 fatalities—among them seven police officers—and dozens of injuries before security forces eliminated the attackers following an extended standoff.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
