Jordan Interior Minister Calls for Harshest Penalties After Seven Die in Karak Church Attack

Seven people were killed and at least 34 others injured when gunmen attacked a funeral at a church in Hmoud, within the Karak governorate of central Jordan, on Friday. Officials stated that the attackers arrived by car, entered the building, and opened fire before fleeing the scene. No individual or group has yet claimed responsibility for the incident, which authorities are treating as an act of terrorism.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed the public at a news conference, identifying the suspects as a "group of extremists." He characterized the event as "painful and horrific" and noted it was "unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan." King Abdullah II subsequently declared that authorities would "confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties." Initial reports regarding the death toll varied, with a government spokesperson initially citing six deaths before officials confirmed the final count of seven.

Verified CCTV footage captured the moment three gunmen approached the church from a nearby road. The recordings show two men entering what appears to be a vehicle entrance, retreating briefly, and returning with a third individual. All three were seen carrying handguns. Additional footage from the aftermath depicted dead and wounded individuals lying on the ground amidst chaotic conditions.

Witnesses inside the church described a scene of intense panic, with attendees diving under pews and moving away from windows while prayers and screams echoed through the building. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present at the church, estimated the duration of the gunfire at approximately 15 minutes. He reported that people attempted to flee while shots were still being fired and that the gunmen exited through the doors, escaping in a pickup truck while continuing to fire.

Another witness described the sound as resembling the start of a war. A woman inside the church stated that gunfire began seconds after a prayer and that the situation continued to escalate for 10 continuous minutes. Upon exiting the building, she observed bodies scattered throughout the courtyards. Security forces established a heavy perimeter around a hospital in Karak treating the wounded, closing nearby roads and forcing visitors to park and walk.

Security measures were increased further ahead of King Abdullah II’s visit to see the injured. The atmosphere remained tense, with families crying and shouting in grief. Many residents expressed shock and anger, with some voicing frustration over what they described as a failure to adopt a tougher stance against terrorists. Karak is home to a sizeable Christian community in the majority Muslim country, where such violent incidents remain rare despite a history of deadly attacks.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a Christian head of state, condemned the event as a "heinous terrorist attack." He stated that the violence violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners and contradicted all religious and humanitarian values, according to Lebanese media reports.