Seven people were killed and 34 injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak governorate, prompting King Abdullah to vow a forceful response.
WEBDESK – MEDIABITES
Seven people were killed and 34 others wounded after gunmen opened fire on mourners attending a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s southern Karak governorate on Friday, October 23, 2026, with King Abdullah II condemning the shooting as a “terrorist attack” and vowing a strong response.
Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said the attackers stormed the church compound in the village of Hamoud before opening fire. The head of the directorate, Maj. Gen. Abdallah Al Maaytah, said security forces continued searching for the suspects.
Twenty-seven of the wounded were receiving treatment in hospitals, Al Maaytah said, as authorities worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack.
King vows crackdown, urges national unity
King Abdullah condemned the shooting and warned that those responsible would face severe consequences. In a statement posted on X, he said the attack would not undermine Jordanian unity.
“The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation,” the king said, adding that those seeking to divide the country through violence would find no success.
He stressed that Jordanians, regardless of their geographical or religious backgrounds, shared a common future and that every life mattered.
The king subsequently visited injured victims in hospital and spoke with them about their condition, according to footage broadcast by state-owned Al Mamlaka TV.
Queen Rania also expressed solidarity with the victims and their families, describing the shooting as a heinous crime against worshippers in Karak.
“Our hearts are with our people of Karak,” she wrote on X.
Government blames extremist group
Interior Minister Mazen Al Faraya said a group of extremists had carried out the attack and that the government was taking steps to identify and apprehend those responsible.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Al Maaytah, Al Faraya said Jordanians rejected the violence and that the incident would reinforce the country’s efforts to combat terrorism.
He added that Jordan remained determined to resist attempts to spread extremism and terrorism.
According to accounts cited by The National, the gunmen arrived in a vehicle, fired at mourners for several minutes and then fled. A witness quoted by Al Mamlaka TV said between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church when the shooting occurred.
Many of the victims were reportedly between 50 and 70 years old. A doctor attending the funeral told The National that he saw his father and uncle shot during the attack. His uncle died, while his father was taken to hospital.
Security camera footage broadcast by Al Mamlaka appeared to show three people firing towards a camera before moving towards the church entrance. A relative of one of the victims told The National that three doctors were among those killed.
A member of the Halasah family in Karak said the church had been directly targeted and that Christians were the intended victims. Authorities had not publicly established a motive, and no group had immediately claimed responsibility.
Attack raises concerns over religious security
Karak, located about 100 kilometres south of Amman, has a Christian minority within Jordan’s predominantly Muslim population. The country is also home to several biblical sites that attract Christian pilgrims from around the world.
Attacks of this kind are rare in Jordan, which has generally maintained greater domestic stability than several countries in the wider region.
The shooting is likely to intensify scrutiny of security at religious sites and public gatherings, particularly as authorities investigate whether the attack was motivated by religious extremism.
For Jordan, the response will involve both bringing those responsible to justice and preventing the violence from deepening religious divisions. King Abdullah’s emphasis on national unity reflects the government’s concern that an attack on a Christian congregation could have consequences beyond the immediate loss of life.
The investigation was continuing, with authorities yet to announce arrests or provide further details about the suspects.
