A somber funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan turned into a scene of carnage Friday when a group of gunmen opened fire on mourners, killing at least six people and wounding dozens more. The attack, which took place in the city of Al-Karak, has shocked a nation where violence against the Christian minority is considered rare.
Witnesses and security footage describe a calculated and brutal assault. The attackers approached the church armed with an automatic rifle and pistols. Before the first shots were fired, survivors reported hearing loud explosions, which sowed immediate panic among the congregation. The shooting that followed lasted several minutes as the gunmen systematically targeted individuals both inside and outside the sanctuary.
Local authorities have provided conflicting figures on the casualties, with some early reports citing seven deaths and 34 injuries, while updated figures from security services placed the toll at six dead and 28 wounded. The condition of those hospitalized remains fluid as medical teams in Al-Karak work to stabilize the victims.
Samer Halsa, a survivor of the attack, recounted the terrifying moments when the sanctuary was breached. He said the congregation was in the middle of prayer when the gunfire erupted. Mourners were forced to duck under pews to seek cover as bullets shattered the peace of the service. Another video of the incident captured the terrifying moments as people attempted to flee deeper into the church for safety.
Security footage from the scene revealed that three individuals were involved in the primary assault. One man was seen carrying an automatic weapon, while two others were armed with pistols. A third individual, who appeared to be part of the group, was seen experiencing a weapon malfunction outside the perimeter. Because his firearm jammed, he never reached the interior of the church and did not join the active shooting.
The footage also showed a high level of brutality. In one sequence, a gunman armed with a rifle was seen stepping over a motionless person on the ground and firing directly at them. He then moved toward several others who were lying down, including one person who was still moving, and fired again at close range. A second gunman with a pistol followed, firing at those already struck and lying on the floor.
Following the attackers’ escape, the survivors turned to emergency services, but the response has become a point of significant local contention. Halsa and other witnesses noted that it took approximately 45 minutes for Civil Defense and police units to arrive on the scene. By the time authorities arrived, the gunmen had already fled the area.
In the wake of the tragedy, the Jordanian government has vowed a severe response. King Abdullah II stated that the state would strike those responsible with an “iron fist,” emphasizing that the stability of the kingdom would not be compromised by such acts of terror. Queen Rania also condemned the shooting, describing the assault on the funeral as “heinous.”
Security services have launched an intensive manhunt across southern Jordan to locate the perpetrators. While no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the massacre, the targeting of a Christian religious service in Al-Karak is being treated as a major security breach. This incident marks a significant departure from the relative communal peace usually enjoyed by Jordan’s Christian minority. As the investigation continues, the city of Al-Karak remains under heavy security presence while the community begins to mourn those lost in the pews.
