Middle East
Jordan: gunmen attack Orthodox church in Karak during funeral, killing seven and wounding 34
Two masked men opened fire during a funeral service in the village of Hamoud; authorities called the attack terrorist and unprecedented.
By ANN Newsroom · Newsroom
October 23, 2026, 18:30 · Updated 18:45 · 1 min read
In brief
- At least seven people were killed and 34 wounded at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate.
- According to witnesses, two masked men entered the church after an explosion and fired for several minutes.
- King Abdullah II vowed “the harshest penalties”; no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.
At least seven people were killed and 34 others wounded on Friday when gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud in Karak governorate, south of Amman, during a funeral service. The figures were confirmed by Public Security Directorate Director Obaidullah Al-Maaytah, who said 27 of the wounded were being treated in hospital.
Survivors described two masked attackers. A funeral attendee, Khaled Burqan, told state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that one carried a pistol and the other a rifle. According to witnesses, an explosion was heard as the procession began, after which the attackers entered the church and fired for several minutes. Security forces are pursuing two suspects, and no group has claimed responsibility.
“The perpetrators will be caught”
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya called the attack “terrorist” and “unprecedented,” without naming any group. King Abdullah II vowed that the attackers would face “the harshest penalties,” while Al-Maaytah said national unity would not be harmed. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres strongly condemned the attack; his spokesman called an attack during a funeral procession “especially heinous.”
Such attacks are extremely rare in Jordan, where Christians number about 300,000 out of a population of roughly 11.5 million. Karak has been hit before: in 2016 an Islamic State attack near the city's castle killed 10 people, including security personnel and a Canadian tourist.
