Karak Church Attack Kills Seven in 15 Minute Shooting

Fifteen minutes of gunfire killed seven people and wounded at least 34 others inside a church in Hmoud, Karak, on Friday. The attack occurred during a funeral service in central Jordan. Officials confirmed the death toll after initial reports varied between six and seven fatalities.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed the press, labeling the unidentified attackers a group of extremists. He characterized the incident as painful and horrific, noting it was unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom. No group has claimed responsibility for the violence. King Abdullah II stated that authorities would confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties.

Verified CCTV footage shows three gunmen approaching the church from a road. Two entered a vehicle entrance, retreated, and returned with a third man. All three carried handguns. Witness Khalid al-Mdanat told BBC Arabic that the shooting lasted about 15 minutes. He noted that people tried to flee while the gunfire was still active. The gunmen exited through the church doors and escaped in a pickup truck, firing as they went.

Inside the building, witnesses described scenes of panic. Congregants threw themselves under pews and moved away from windows. Prayers and screams echoed through the structure. One woman reported that gunfire began seconds after a prayer. She said the situation escalated for 10 continuous minutes. When she exited, she found bodies in the courtyards.

Security forces closed roads near the hospital in Karak treating the injured. Families gathered outside, displaying shock and anger. Some residents expressed frustration over what they called a failure to take a tougher approach toward terrorists. Security tightened further ahead of King Abdullah II's visit to see the wounded.

Karak hosts a sizeable Christian community within Jordan's majority Muslim population. Such violence remains rare in the country, though deadly attacks have occurred previously. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a heinous terrorist attack. He stated that the violence violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners.

Authorities continue to search for the three suspects. The Karak governorate remains the focus of the investigation. Hospital staff treat the 34 injured patients. The King's office coordinates with security chiefs to finalize the response strategy.