Karak church shooting leaves seven dead and 34 injured

Seven people died and at least 34 others were injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Hmoud, within the Karak governorate, on Friday. The attack marked the deadliest incident in the region in years, according to local officials.

Witnesses reported that three unidentified men arrived by vehicle, entered the church grounds, and began shooting. The violence lasted approximately 15 minutes. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was inside the building, told BBC Arabic that people tried to flee while the gunfire was still active. He said the gunmen exited through the main doors and escaped in a pickup truck, firing as they drove away.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed the media on Friday, describing the attackers as a group of extremists. He labeled the event painful and horrific, noting that it was unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Authorities are currently working to identify and arrest those responsible. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting.

King Abdullah II stated that officials would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. Early reports on the death toll varied, with a government spokesperson initially citing six victims before officials confirmed the number at seven. Verified CCTV footage showed the three men carrying handguns as they approached the church from the road.

The scene inside the church was chaotic, with mourners throwing themselves under pews and moving away from windows. One witness described the noise as sounding like a war had just started. A woman inside said the gunfire began seconds after a prayer and continued to escalate for ten continuous minutes. When she emerged, she found bodies in the courtyards.

Security forces closed roads near the hospital in Karak where the wounded were being treated. Families gathered at the hospital entrance, where they cried and shouted in grief. Some residents expressed frustration, calling the attack a failure to take a tougher approach toward terrorists. King Abdullah II visited the injured to check on their recovery.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a heinous terrorist attack. He said the violence violated the sanctity of death and mourners, contradicting religious and humanitarian values. The Karak governorate has a large Christian population within a majority Muslim country, where such violent incidents remain rare.