RismadarVoice Reporters
October 23, 2026
At least seven people have been killed and 10 others injured after two unidentified gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s southern Karak Governorate.
The attack occurred on Friday at a church in the village of Hammoud, where mourners had gathered to attend a funeral.
Jordan’s state-owned Al-Mamlaka television reported that several of the injured were in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll could increase.
According to security sources, the attackers arrived in a vehicle, stepped out and opened fire on people attending the funeral before fleeing the scene.
An eyewitness, Khaled Burqan, told Al-Mamlaka that one of the attackers carried a rifle while the other was armed with a pistol.
He said the shooting continued for several minutes as mourners attempted to escape.
Another witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were inside and around the church when the attack occurred.
Most of the victims were reportedly between 50 and 70 years old, although authorities had not released a comprehensive breakdown of their identities.
Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed that security personnel had been deployed to the area and were pursuing the suspects.
The country’s Minister of Government Communications, Mohammed Al-Momani, also acknowledged the incident, saying security agencies were investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
He urged the public to rely on verified information from official sources while investigations continued.
Authorities had not disclosed the identities of the attackers or established whether the shooting was motivated by religious hostility, a personal dispute or other circumstances.
No organisation had immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Karak, situated in southern Jordan, is home to a significant Christian community within the predominantly Muslim country.
Jordan is generally regarded as relatively stable compared with several countries in the surrounding region, and attacks of this nature are uncommon.
The shooting has nevertheless raised immediate security concerns, particularly for residents and worshippers in the affected community.
Security authorities are expected to provide further information as efforts continue to identify and apprehend those responsible.
As of the latest reports, the official casualty figures remained at seven deaths and 10 injuries, with some victims receiving treatment for serious wounds.
