Seven killed and 40 injured after gunmen open fire at church funeral in Jordan
Seven people were killed and 40 injured when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, on Friday.
Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen approaching the church and firing shots, followed by a third man with a semiautomatic rifle. All three then ran toward the church, according to reports.
Witness video captured inside the church showed broken glass and pools of blood on the floor. Dorgham Halasa, a mourner, described intense gunfire erupting 15 minutes after the funeral began, causing people to flee.
Investigation begins
A government statement confirmed the attack was "carried out by unknown assailants" but did not specify if any gunmen were captured or killed. "Investigations are under way at full speed," authorities said. Halasa reported seeing four gunmen, though this couldn't be independently verified.
It was a weird situation, and heavy gunfire.
Regional response
Jordan declared three days of national mourning. King Abdullah II vowed to "confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties" and offered condolences to victims' families. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan called it a result of "terrorist ideology and blind extremism."
Condemnation came from across the region, including Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, and Oman. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the attack "especially heinous" and demanded those responsible be held accountable.
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