Seven shot dead by gunmen at church funeral in Jordan, officials say
News Source
β’Fri, 23 Oct 2026 18:10:56 GMT
π° What Happened
Gunmen opened fire at a funeral in central Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and injuring at least 34. The attack happened at a church in Hmoud, in Karak province. Between 150 and 200 people were inside at the time, one witness said.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived by car, walked into the church and started shooting before fleeing. No group has said it was behind the attack. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya called the gunmen extremists and said police were hunting them.
π The Backstory
King Abdullah II said the authorities would answer the attack with the hardest punishments. CCTV seen by the BBC appears to show three men with handguns walking towards the church grounds. The death toll was reported as seven, then six, before officials confirmed seven again.
Jordan is a mostly Muslim country with a small Christian minority. Churches and Christian sites there have generally been safe, and attacks on them are rare. Karak is a southern province best known for its historic castle.
π― Why It Matters
An attack on a funeral shocks the whole country, not just one family. It also tests whether Jordan can keep its long record of religious calm.
Gunmen opened fire at a funeral in central Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and injuring at least 34. The attack happened at a church in Hmoud, in Karak province. Between 150 and 200 people were inside at the time, one witness said.
Witnesses said the attackers arrived by car, walked into the church and started shooting before fleeing. No group has said it was behind the attack. Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya called the gunmen extremists and said police were hunting them.
King Abdullah II said the authorities would answer the attack with the hardest punishments. CCTV seen by the BBC appears to show three men with handguns walking towards the church grounds. The death toll was reported as seven, then six, before officials confirmed seven again.
Jordan is a mostly Muslim country with a small Christian minority. Churches and Christian sites there have generally been safe, and attacks on them are rare. Karak is a southern province best known for its historic castle.
An attack on a funeral shocks the whole country, not just one family. It also tests whether Jordan can keep its long record of religious calm.