King Abdullah II orders harshest penalties after Karak funeral shooting
Three men killed seven mourners and injured at least 34 others in a 15-minute attack on a church in central Jordan.
By Kaito Shevchenko ·
King Abdullah II has ordered that the harshest penalties be applied to those responsible for the attack on a church in Karak, Jordan. The royal directive came after three gunmen killed seven people and wounded at least 34 others during a funeral service on Friday.
The shooting took place in the Hmoud area of the Karak governorate. Officials stated that the attackers arrived by car, entered the building, and opened fire. They fled the scene before security forces could detain them. No group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya addressed reporters at a news conference following the attack. He labeled the perpetrators a group of extremists. Al-Faraya described the event as painful and horrific. He called it unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.
CCTV footage verified by the BBC shows three men approaching the church from a road. Two of the men enter what appears to be a vehicle entrance, retreat briefly, and return with a third man. All three appear to be carrying handguns. Other footage from the aftermath shows dead and wounded individuals on the ground.
Witnesses inside the church described a scene of panic. Khalid al-Mdanat told BBC Arabic that the attack lasted about 15 minutes. He said people tried to flee while shooting was still active. The gunmen left through the church doors and escaped in a pickup truck, firing as they went.
Another witness said the situation continued to escalate for 10 continuous minutes after the gunfire began. A woman inside the church said bodies were found in the courtyards when she exited. Security at local hospitals was heavy, and nearby roads were closed as families gathered to mourn the victims.
Jordan is a majority Muslim country with a sizeable Christian community in Karak. Deadly attacks are rare in the nation. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the incident as a heinous terrorist attack. He said it violated the sanctity of death and funeral mourners.
Source: BBC News
