A shooting at a church in the southern Jordanian governorate of Karak left 6 people dead and another 28 wounded on Friday, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate law enforcement agency said.
What do we know so far?
A security source told Jordanian state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that the shooting occurred at the Hammoud Church. The shooting reportedly occurred during a funeral.
The attackers’ identities and motives remain unclear. Two men opened fire on the funeral procession.
A witness told Jordanian state media there were 150 to 200 people present at the church at the time of the shooting. Videos circulating online showed wounded people on the floor of the church covered in blood, but this footage cannot be verified by DW.
Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani said security forces have launched a probe into the attack.
Jordan King Abdullah II: ‘We will strike with an iron fist’
Jordan King Abdullah II said “the terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation.”
“Those who delude themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of our unity,” Abdullah II said, while adding “we will strike with an iron fish against those who dare to threaten our nation.”
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a Christian, also condemned the “heinous terrorist attack” in Jordan and expressed condolences to the victims.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz said the news regarding the attack is “devastating.”
“Praying for the victims, their families and all those affected by this depraved and brutal attack on a house of worship,” Waltz said. “Attacks on Christians continue to escalate worldwide and must be stopped.”
Gun attacks like the one on the church in Karak are rare in Jordan.
Although Jordan is largely a Muslim-majority country of around 11.5 million people, there is a small Christian minority of a couple hundred thousand. The Karak region, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Amman, has a significant Christian population.
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Edited by: Sean Sinico
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