King Abdullah Vows Iron Fist After Eight Killed in Karak Church Shooting

Eight people died and 40 others were wounded when gunmen opened fire inside a Greek Orthodox church in Karak on Friday. The attack occurred in broad daylight while a funeral was taking place. King Abdullah II ordered security forces to hunt down the perpetrators and respond with firmness, the royal court announced.

The shooting lasted for several minutes. Authorities later labeled the incident an act of extremist terrorism. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials stated it was too early to determine if the attackers had connections to known groups inside or outside Jordan.

King Abdullah traveled to Karak within hours of the incident. He vowed that the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan posted on X that the attack resulted from terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He added that society would not be allowed to follow that path. Jordan declared three days of national mourning.

Security has been tightened at shopping malls, foreign embassies, and other sites across the country. The U.S. embassy in Amman confirmed the heightened measures. Police were seen patrolling outside the church on Saturday. Authorities continue to search for the gunmen.

Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived the shooting, told Reuters that one attacker stood about two meters away and fired a handgun at him. Al-Burqan’s son was also present at the service. The son was shot in the leg and received hospital treatment. Al-Burqan looked out a window after the gunfire stopped and saw two assailants. One was masked, and the other was unmasked and carrying a handgun.

Tarek Ammarin, whose relative was injured, described the event as a massacre in every sense of the word. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village in Karak, called the attack wicked. He expressed hope that the country would remain safe. Karak is home to a minority Christian population. Jordan contains several biblical sites that attract Christian pilgrims from around the world.

Attacks of this nature are rare in Jordan. The US-allied kingdom’s authorities say they have repeatedly foiled plots by violent groups in recent years. These groups are driven by a strict interpretation of Islam. The capital, Amman, is located roughly 120 kilometers northeast of Karak.