15-Minute Firefight at Karak Church Leaves Seven Dead

Seven people died and at least 34 were injured when gunmen opened fire at a church funeral in Hmoud, Jordan, on Friday. The attack occurred in the Karak governorate. Officials stated that the attackers arrived by car, entered the building, shot at mourners, and then fled. No individual or group has claimed responsibility for the violence.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed a news conference to detail the response. He labeled the perpetrators a "group of extremists" and described the event as "painful and horrific." Al-Faraya called the attack "unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." King Abdullah II stated that authorities would confront the act with the harshest penalties.

CCTV footage reviewed by the BBC shows three men approaching the church from a road. Two appear to enter a vehicle entrance, retreat briefly, and return with a third man. All three are seen carrying handguns. Other footage from the scene shows injured and deceased individuals on the ground.

Witnesses described a chaotic 15-minute window of gunfire. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present, said people tried to flee while shooting was still active. He noted the gunmen escaped in a pickup truck, firing as they left. Another witness compared the sound to the start of a war. A woman inside the church said gunfire began seconds after a prayer and continued for 10 minutes. When she exited, she found bodies in the courtyards.

Security forces closed roads near the hospital in Karak treating the wounded. Families gathered at the hospital entrance, where crying and shouting were common. Some residents expressed frustration, citing a need for a tougher approach to terrorism. King Abdullah II visited the injured to inspect the situation.

Jordan is a majority Muslim nation with a sizeable Christian community in Karak. While deadly attacks are rare in the country, they have happened before. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident as a heinous terrorist attack. He stated that the violence violated the sanctity of funeral mourners and contradicted religious values.

Authorities are working to arrest those responsible. The death toll was initially reported as six by a government spokesperson before officials confirmed the number as seven. The next step involves the continued search for the gunmen and the trial of those detained.