Karak Church Funeral: Jordan Declares National Mourning After Eight Killed

Eight people died and 40 others suffered injuries when gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate on Friday. The attack occurred in broad daylight, roughly 120 kilometers southwest of the capital, Amman. Jordanian authorities labeled the incident an act of extremist terrorism and declared three days of national mourning.

King Abdullah traveled to the city within hours of the shooting. He instructed security forces to respond firmly and hunt down those responsible for the violence. The monarch vowed that the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan described the event as a result of a terrorist ideology and blind extremism on social media platform X.

Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived the attack, described the scene to Reuters. He said one attacker stood about two meters away and fired a handgun at him. Al-Burqan noted that his son, who was also present, was shot in the leg and is receiving hospital treatment. After the gunfire stopped, the lawyer looked out a window and saw two assailants. One wore a mask, while the other carried a handgun.

In the wake of the shooting, Jordan increased security presence at shopping malls, foreign embassies, and other locations nationwide. The US embassy in Amman confirmed these heightened measures. Police were seen patrolling outside the church on Saturday. Authorities continue to search for the perpetrators, though no group has claimed responsibility.

Tarek Ammarin, a relative of one of the wounded, visited a hospital where victims were being treated. He described the event as a massacre in every sense of the word. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village in Karak, condemned the wickedness of the attack. He stated that God willing, the country will remain safe.

Attacks of this nature are rare in Jordan, although officials say they have foiled plots by violent groups in recent years. Karak is home to a minority Christian population. The kingdom also contains several biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims from around the world. Officials said it is too early to determine if the attackers have ties to known groups inside or outside the country.