Tragedy in Jordan: 6 Dead, 28 Wounded in Devastating Attack on Church

AMMAN, Jordan — At least six people were killed and 28 others injured when unidentified gunmen opened fire during a funeral service inside a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan. The rare and deadly assault threw the quiet village of Hamoud in the Karak governorate into chaos as mourners gathered to pay their respects.

King Abdullah II condemned the assault as a "terrorist attack," declaring that the nation would respond with the utmost severity.

Eyewitnesses reported that the gunfire erupted unexpectedly while a packed congregation gathered for a funeral procession. Armed assailants equipped with automatic rifles opened fire on the attendees before fleeing the scene. Panic quickly engulfed the house of worship as parishioners scrambled for cover amid the sudden barrage.

Emergency services rushed to the location, transporting dozens of wounded victims to nearby medical facilities in Karak, approximately 90 miles south of the capital city of Amman. Medical personnel confirmed that several of the injured remain in critical condition.

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed that security forces immediately deployed heavy reinforcements to seal off the area, establish checkpoints, and launch an intensive manhunt for the perpetrators.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan convened an emergency meeting of top security officials in Karak to directly oversee the government's response to the tragedy. Government spokesman Mohammad Al-Momani described the assault as a "heinous crime" and urged the public to rely exclusively on official updates as investigators work to determine the identity and motives of the attackers.

No group has immediately claimed responsibility for the shooting.

The attack has sent shockwaves through Jordan, a country known for its relative stability in the Middle East and its history of religious coexistence between its Sunni Muslim majority and Christian minority communities. The governorate of Karak is home to one of Jordan’s oldest historic Christian populations. Leaders and community representatives across the country have expressed grief and solidarity, calling for unity as authorities continue their pursuit of those responsible.