Seven Dead in Karak Church Shooting

Seven people died and 34 others were wounded when gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud, Jordan, on Friday. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya identified the attackers as a group of extremists at a press conference. The incident is described as a rare assault on Christians in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom.

The public security directorate reported that the assailants exited a vehicle during a funeral procession. They stormed the church compound and opened fire. State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka aired footage of the attack. The video shows two gunmen in casual clothing holding pistols and a third carrying a long gun. They fired from a street entrance before advancing into the building.

An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that the attackers fired without pause for five minutes before escaping. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were in and around the church at the time. Most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old. The village is located in Karak governorate, which is 110 miles south of the capital, Amman.

A manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani stated that security forces are investigating the attack. King Abdullah II reacted on social media, promising the "harshest retaliation" against those responsible. He said, "Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation."

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting. A presidency statement described the event as a "heinous terrorist attack." Aoun noted that the violence reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland. He added that the aim is to strike at coexistence and spread strife.

Karak has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in the area. The targets included a Crusader castle popular with tourists. Ten people were killed in those 2016 attacks, including seven officers. Dozens of others were wounded. Security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.