Gunmen open fire at Jordan church funeral, killing seven and wounding 40
Three armed attackers opened fire during a Greek Orthodox funeral in Karak, Jordan, killing seven and injuring 40 people.
At a glance
- Gunmen killed seven and wounded 40 at a Greek Orthodox funeral in Karak, Jordan.
- King Abdullah II vowed harsh penalties and three days of national mourning were declared.
- Regional and UN leaders condemned the attack as a terrorist act.
Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40 others, authorities said.
The attack took place about 180km south of Amman. Footage on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen appearing to hold pistols approaching the church and firing, followed by a third man with a semiautomatic rifle who also opened fire before all three ran toward the church.
Witness Dorgham Halasa said intense gunfire erupted 15 minutes after the funeral began, causing people to run. He reported seeing broken glass and pools of blood inside the church. Other mourners reported seeing four assailants, though the exact number could not be independently verified.
A government statement said the attack was carried out by unknown assailants and that investigations are under way at full speed. Jordan declared three days of national mourning.
Karak has a minority Christian population. A similar 2016 attack in the same area killed 10 people, including seven officers, when gunmen ambushed police.
Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour confirmed two wounded are in critical condition. King Abdullah II vowed Jordan will confront the terrorist act with the harshest penalties. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan described the attack as resulting from terrorist ideology and blind extremism.
Regional condemnation came from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Oman. Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb of Al-Azhar called it a heinous terrorist attack. Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein affirmed solidarity with Jordan. UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the attack as especially heinous and called for those responsible to be held to account.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- How many people were killed and injured in the Jordan church funeral shooting?
- Seven people were killed and 40 others were wounded in the attack at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan.
- Who condemned the Jordan church shooting?
- King Abdullah II, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, regional leaders from Lebanon, Syria, Egypt and Oman, Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres all condemned the attack.
- What is known about the attackers in the Jordan funeral shooting?
- Authorities described the assailants as unknown gunmen who opened fire during the funeral. Jordanian security services did not immediately release details, and the government stated investigations are under way.
