Nine killed, 40 injured in Jordan church shooting

Three armed men killed nine people and wounded 40 others during a funeral at St George's Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, Jordan, on Friday.

The attack represents a rare violent incident against the country's Christian population. Maj Gen Abdallah al-Maaytah, head of the Public Security Directorate, confirmed that most of the injured were receiving medical treatment. He stated that security forces were actively searching for the remaining attackers. The health minister verified the total number of injured at 40.

Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh attributed the violence to extremists. He noted that it was too early to determine if the perpetrators had links to known groups inside or outside Jordan. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the shooting. Footage from Al-Mamlaka television showed the three men firing from a pavement near trees and a low wall before moving toward the church entrance.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos inside the building. Priest Theodoros Soueiss instructed the congregation to take cover. He said, "A sense of panic took hold among those present." He added that the gunfire was indiscriminate. Khaled Burqan, an attendee, told state television that dozens of people were present when the gunmen fired for several minutes. Ihab Ammareen reported seeing people collapse on the floor covered in blood. He described the scene as one of crying and screaming.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan described the event as a result of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He wrote on X that society would not allow itself to follow that path. King Abdullah visited Karak within hours of the attack. He promised the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. He stated that those who attempt to divide the nation with bullets have no chance in the face of national unity.

Security measures have been tightened across Jordan. The US embassy in Amman announced on Saturday that guards were increased at malls, foreign embassies, and other locations. The United Nations secretary general, António Guterres, condemned the violence against civilians and places of worship. US ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz called the incident a depraved and brutal attack. Jordan is considered a stable region, though US authorities have reported foiling attempted attacks by Islamist militants in recent years.

Christians remain a minority in Jordan, a country home to several biblical sites that attract international pilgrims. The nation also faced Iranian attacks this year following US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Outside a government hospital in Karak, Hani Al-Mbaydeen expressed the shock felt by many. He urged the state to investigate the source of these dark ideas and how they enter the minds of the country's children.