Gunfire During a Funeral Service

Unidentified gunmen stormed St. George Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hmood, Karak province, about 145 kilometers south of the capital Amman, on Friday (23/10/2026), as mourners attended a funeral service for a community member. According to Jordan's Public Security Directorate, the attackers arrived in a car and opened fire on the mourners for several minutes before fleeing.

Witnesses reported seeing two gunmen—one armed with a handgun and another with a rifle—continuously shooting at the congregation. A witness told state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that one assailant carried an AK-47 assault rifle. Security camera footage circulating on social media showed three armed men walking from the street toward the church. An estimated 150 to 200 people were inside and around the church when the attack took place.

6 Dead, 28 Injured — Majority Elderly Victims

The Public Security Directorate confirmed at least 6 people were killed and 28 others injured, with several victims in critical condition. Jordanian state media initially reported 7 dead before revising the toll to six. According to local residents, most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old.

Jordanian security forces were immediately deployed to the scene and launched a massive manhunt for the perpetrators who remain at large. As of the time of reporting, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The Ministry of Home Affairs (Kemendagri) is scheduled to hold a press briefing shortly.

King Abdullah: A Terrorist Act

Jordan's King Abdullah II condemned the attack as a 'terrorist act' and vowed a firm response against those responsible. 'The blood of Jordanian citizens is precious, and we will strike those who infringe upon this country with an iron fist,' the king wrote on his X account.

Government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani described the attack as 'heinous'. Jordan's Prime Minister is scheduled to lead a Security Council meeting alongside all ministers. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun—the only Christian head of state in the Arab world—condemned the assault as a 'heinous terrorist attack'. Sectarian attacks are rare in Jordan, where Christians make up only about 2 percent of the population, and the Karak community has long been known for interfaith coexistence.