The shooting took place in Karak, a city located approximately 90 kilometres south of the capital, Amman. The circumstances surrounding the attack remained unclear, and authorities had not immediately released detailed information about the suspected gunmen or their whereabouts.
The violence erupted while mourners had gathered inside the church for a funeral service, turning a religious gathering into a scene of panic and bloodshed. Dorgham Halasa, one of the people attending the funeral, said the shooting began about 15 minutes after the ceremony started.
Halasa described hearing intense gunfire before people began rushing to escape the scene. Although he did not personally see the attackers, he said other witnesses reported seeing four gunmen. The number of assailants, however, could not be independently confirmed.
Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television appeared to show two men carrying pistols approaching the church and firing. A third individual, apparently armed with a semiautomatic rifle, subsequently approached and opened fire before the men ran towards the building.
Videos recorded by witnesses showed shattered glass and blood on the church floor, reflecting the severity of the incident. Authorities had yet to establish a complete account of how the shooting unfolded or whether any suspects had been arrested or killed.
In a statement, the Jordanian government described the attackers as unknown assailants and said investigations were proceeding urgently. Security officials were working to establish the identities of those responsible and determine the circumstances that led to the deadly incident.
Jordan declared three days of national mourning following the killings, according to the kingdom’s state news agency, Petra. The announcement reflected the gravity of the attack and the loss suffered by the victims’ families and the wider community.
Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of the injured victims were in critical condition. The remaining wounded were receiving medical attention, although authorities had not immediately provided a detailed breakdown of their injuries.
King Abdullah II condemned the violence in a statement posted on X, pledging a strong response to the attack. He vowed that Jordan would confront the act with the harshest penalties and extended his condolences to the families of those killed, while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan also addressed the incident during a security meeting in Karak on Friday evening. He attributed the attack to extremist ideology and described the perpetrators’ actions as an example of blind extremism. Hassan said those responsible would face punishment and that legal measures would be taken against individuals seeking to spread extremist beliefs.
The attack has also drawn attention to Karak’s history of violence. The city, which has a minority Christian population, witnessed a series of deadly assaults in 2016 when gunmen attacked police officers and other targets, including a Crusader-era castle popular with tourists.
That earlier violence left 10 people dead, including seven police officers, and dozens wounded. Jordanian security forces eventually killed the attackers following a prolonged standoff. The latest shooting has renewed concerns about security and the protection of civilians attending public and religious gatherings, although investigators have not established a connection between the two incidents.
Condemnation of Friday’s killings came from across the Middle East and beyond, with officials and religious leaders expressing solidarity with Jordan and the victims’ families.
Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Cairo’s Al-Azhar institution, condemned the shooting as a heinous terrorist attack and offered condolences to those affected. Al-Azhar is widely regarded as one of the leading centres of Sunni Islamic scholarship.
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also contacted his Jordanian counterpart to express Iraq’s support. According to a statement from Hussein’s office, he reaffirmed Baghdad’s solidarity with Amman in confronting terrorism.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack as particularly heinous because it occurred during a funeral. His spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, said the secretary-general had called for everyone responsible to be identified and held accountable.
As investigations continue, Jordanian authorities face the task of determining who carried out the attack, establishing their motives and clarifying whether others were involved. Officials have not yet released a comprehensive account of the suspects or confirmed the number of gunmen.
For the families of those killed and the injured, the immediate focus remains on mourning, recovery and the search for answers. The attack has also prompted renewed calls for accountability as Jordan seeks to establish the full circumstances of one of the country’s latest deadly acts of violence. Musk’s Potential Tesla–SpaceX Merger Faces a Major China Challenge Over Data and National Security | Maya
