Karak Church Attack: Five-Minute Barrage Kills Seven in Jordan
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya identified the attackers as a group of extremists and confirmed a manhunt is underway after 34 others were wounded.
By Marco Ortega ·
At least seven people died when gunmen opened fire inside a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday. The shooting occurred during a funeral service in the village of Hammoud, located in the Karak governorate.
Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya told reporters at a press conference that 34 other individuals sustained injuries. He attributed the attack to a group of extremists. The public security directorate stated that the assailants exited a vehicle during the funeral procession and stormed the church compound before beginning to shoot.
State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka aired video of the incident. The footage shows two men in casual clothing holding pistols and a third man carrying a long gun. They fire from a street-level entrance and then move forward into the building. An eyewitness described the vehicle pulling up to the site. The witness said the gunmen fired without pause for five minutes before escaping. The witness estimated that 150 to 200 people were present in and around the church at the time. Most of the victims were between the ages of 50 and 70.
Karak is situated 110 miles south of the capital, Amman. The region is home to a large Christian population. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces are investigating the attack. A manhunt for the perpetrators is currently under way.
King Abdullah II reacted to the violence on social media. He promised the harshest retaliation against those responsible. The king stated that every Jordanian life is precious and that the nation will strike with an iron fist against threats.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting in a presidency statement. He called it a heinous terrorist attack. He noted that the event reaffirms that terrorism has no religion or homeland and aims to strike at coexistence.
The region has experienced deadly violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in the area, including at a Crusader castle. Ten people were killed in that incident, seven of whom were officers. Dozens were wounded. Security forces killed the attackers after a lengthy standoff.
Source: CBS News
