7 killed, many injured as gunmen invade church funeral

Seven people have been killed and at least 34 others injured after gunmen opened fire on a church during a funeral in central Jordan, triggering panic among mourners and prompting a major security response.

The attack occurred on Friday in Hmoud, in the Karak governorate, when unidentified gunmen reportedly arrived in a vehicle, entered the church and began shooting at people gathered for the funeral before fleeing the scene.

The incident has drawn widespread condemnation, with Jordanian authorities describing it as a terrorist act and promising to bring those responsible to justice.

Gunmen storm church during funeral

According to reports, the assailants arrived at the church in a car before entering the premises and opening fire on mourners. The attackers subsequently escaped, leaving several people dead and dozens injured.

The circumstances surrounding the attack remained under investigation as security agencies intensified efforts to identify and apprehend the suspects.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya, speaking at a news conference, described the perpetrators as a “group of extremists” and said the authorities were working to arrest them.

Al-Faraya also described the incident as painful and horrific, saying it was unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

The attack occurred in a country where violence of this nature is relatively uncommon, raising concerns over the security of religious gatherings and public events.

Death toll revised as investigations continue

The number of fatalities was revised several times following the shooting. Initial reports indicated that seven people had been killed, but a government spokesperson subsequently announced that six people had died.

Officials later revised the death toll to seven, while at least 34 people were reported to have sustained injuries.

The injured were taken to hospital for treatment, with security personnel deployed around the medical facility as families and other residents gathered to seek information about victims.

Roads around the hospital were closed, forcing some people to park their vehicles at a distance and continue on foot.

The heavy security presence came amid an atmosphere of grief and anger, as relatives struggled to come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.

Authorities also tightened security ahead of a visit by King Abdullah II to check on those receiving treatment.

CCTV footage shows three armed suspects

Closed-circuit television footage verified by the BBC reportedly showed three men approaching the church from a nearby road shortly before the attack.

Two of the suspects were seen moving towards what appeared to be a vehicle entrance to the church grounds before retreating briefly and returning with a third man.

All three appeared to be carrying handguns, according to the footage.

Separate footage believed to have been recorded after the shooting reportedly showed several dead and wounded people lying on the ground amid chaotic scenes.

The material is expected to form part of the evidence available to investigators as they work to establish how the attackers gained access to the church and determine their identities and motives.

However, no group had claimed responsibility for the attack as of the time of the report.

Witnesses recount moments of terror

Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion and panic as gunshots rang out inside and around the church.

One witness estimated that the attack lasted about 15 minutes, saying the gunfire initially sounded like the outbreak of a war.

“I heard something as if a war had just started,” the witness said.

The witness explained that the initial noise was mistaken for an electrical short circuit before the seriousness of the situation became apparent.

“I thought it was an electrical short circuit. I looked, people lying on the ground, wounded,” the witness added, describing the scene as catastrophic.

Another woman who was inside the church said explosions were heard seconds after a prayer, followed by the sound of machine guns and breaking glass.

“The sound of machine guns started, and the sound of glass. We began to realise that something was happening,” she said.

She added that people began screaming as the situation deteriorated, forcing worshippers to flee in search of safety.

According to her account, the violence continued to escalate for about 10 minutes, and she saw bodies scattered across the courtyards after escaping from the building.

Other witnesses described a harrowing scene, with injured people lying on the ground and blood visible across the area.

King Abdullah vows harsh punishment

King Abdullah II condemned the attack and vowed that the authorities would respond firmly to those responsible.

The monarch said Jordan would confront what he described as a terrorist act targeting Karak, promising the harshest penalties for the perpetrators.

The government’s response included intensified security measures around the hospital and other locations connected to the incident.

Residents expressed shock, fear and anger following the shooting, with some calling for stronger action against individuals and groups involved in extremist violence.

The gathering of grieving families around the hospital was marked by crying and shouting as relatives mourned those killed and waited for updates on the injured.

The attack has placed renewed attention on the need to protect civilians attending religious services and other gatherings, particularly in communities where such violence is unusual.

Jordan’s Christian community

Karak has a sizeable Christian community, although Jordan is predominantly Muslim.

The shooting at a church funeral has therefore raised particular concerns because it targeted a gathering of mourners at a moment of grief and vulnerability.

Although attacks of this nature are rare in Jordan, the country has experienced deadly security incidents in the past.

The investigation is expected to establish whether the suspects acted alone or were linked to a wider extremist network.

Lebanese president condemns attack

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also condemned the shooting, describing it as a “heinous terrorist attack”.

According to Lebanese media, Aoun said the attack violated the sanctity of death and the dignity of funeral mourners, while contradicting religious and humanitarian values.

His condemnation added to the expressions of outrage following the killings.

Jordanian authorities have continued efforts to apprehend the suspects, while the injured receive medical care and families mourn the victims.

The motive for the attack and the identities of those responsible had yet to be officially established in the report.