AMMAN, Jordan — Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 34 others, authorities said, as security forces launched an investigation into the deadly attack.
The shooting took place at a church in Karak, approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of the capital, Amman, according to reports.
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Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two men, apparently carrying pistols, approaching the church and opening fire. A third man, who appeared to be armed with a semiautomatic rifle, then joined the shooting. All three men subsequently ran toward the church.
In a statement, the government said the attack had been “carried out by unknown assailants” and confirmed that investigations were proceeding at full speed. Officials did not immediately disclose whether any suspects had been arrested or killed.
Karak is home to a minority Christian community and has previously witnessed deadly attacks. In 2016, gunmen carried out a series of attacks in the area, including an ambush near a historic Crusader castle popular with tourists. The violence killed 10 people, including seven police officers, and wounded dozens. Jordanian security forces later killed the attackers following a prolonged standoff.
Jordan’s Director of Public Security, Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah, said at a news conference that 27 of those wounded in Friday’s shooting remained under medical treatment.
King Abdullah II condemned the attack in a statement posted on X, pledging that Jordan would “confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties.” He also expressed his deepest condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
The killings drew condemnation from across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Oman.
Ahmed al-Tayeb, the grand imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, one of the Sunni Muslim world’s most prominent religious institutions, offered condolences to the victims’ families and described the incident as a “heinous terrorist attack.”
Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also contacted his Jordanian counterpart to express solidarity with Jordan in the face of terrorism, according to a statement from Hussein’s office.
Authorities have not publicly identified the gunmen or disclosed a possible motive for the attack. Investigations into the shooting remain ongoing.
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