7 killed, 28 wounded in shooting at Greek Orthodox church in Jordan

At least seven people were killed and 28 wounded Friday in a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan, in a rare attack targeting the kingdom’s Christian community. King Abdullah II vowed that those responsible for the “terrorist attack” in the Karak governorate would face the “severest possible” penalties, AFP reported.

According to a statement from Jordan’s Public Security Directorate, the assailants arrived by vehicle at a funeral procession in the village of Hammoud, entered the grounds of the church and opened fire. The directorate initially reported seven deaths before revising the toll to seven dead and 28 wounded.

Government spokesperson Mohammed al-Momani announced the opening of an investigation.

A witness told Jordanian state television channel Al-Mamlaka that the gunmen fired for around five minutes before fleeing. Between 150 and 200 people were inside and outside the church at the time, he said, adding that most of the casualties were aged between 50 and 70.

CCTV footage broadcast by Al-Mamlaka shows three men, one carrying a rifle and two others handguns, firing repeatedly toward the church from outside before advancing toward the building. The channel reported that the prime minister was chairing a security meeting in Karak to determine the authorities’ response.

The Karak governorate has a population of approximately 375,000 and is home to a significant Christian community. According to Jordan’s Ministry of Tourism, Christians account for between 2% and 3% of the country’s predominantly Muslim population.

Attacks on places of worship are rare in Jordan. In December 2016, an attack in Karak targeted a security post and police patrols, killing 10 people, including seven security personnel and a tourist. The four assailants, who had barricaded themselves inside the historic Karak fortress, were subsequently killed.

Joseph Aoun condemns attack

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun expressed his “deep sadness” and “strong indignation” following what he described as “the heinous terrorist attack that struck worshippers in a church in Karak, Jordan, causing innocent deaths and injuries.”

Condemning the attack, Aoun said the “criminal act,” which targeted a place of worship and the sanctity of death and funerals, was contrary to all religious and human values.

“It underlines once again that terrorism has neither religion nor homeland and that it aims to undermine coexistence and sow discord among members of communities who live in brotherhood,” he said in a statement published on the presidency’s account.

“While expressing Lebanon’s firm condemnation of this aggression, I extend my deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to King Abdullah II, the Jordanian government and people, and the families of the victims,” Aoun added. He also said Lebanon “stands with Jordan in its fight against terrorism” and expressed confidence that Jordanian security forces would identify those responsible and ensure that justice prevailed.

For his part, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri condemned the incident as a "terrorist act." "The attack that struck a funeral procession within the grounds of Saint George’s Church in Jordan constitutes a cowardly terrorist act — one that is condemnable in every respect and by all standards, customs, and religious laws," he emphasized.

"This act is an assault on human life, which God has rendered sacred. It also represents an attack on religious values ​​and principles — most notably those of the authentic Islam of the Prophet, which advocates for mercy, tolerance, and kind speech, while rejecting sin and all forms of aggression," added Berri, who extended his condolences to King Abdullah II, the families of the victims, and the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, John X Yazigi.

In a phone call with his Jordanian counterpart, Jaafar Abdel Fattah Hassan, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam firmly condemned the "terrorist attack" and offered his "sincere condolences to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan — to its King, its government, and its people, as well as to the families of the victims" — while wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.

Salam affirmed "Lebanon’s full solidarity with Jordan in its fight against terrorism," noting that "targeting civilians and places of worship constitutes a flagrant violation of human and religious values, and that nothing can justify such criminal acts."

Condolences from Palais Bustros

The Lebanese Foreign Affairs Ministry has condemned the “terrorist attack” in the “strongest possible terms,” conveying its “condolences to Jordan and the families of the victims” and wishing a speedy recovery to those injured.

Palais Bustros reaffirmed “its categorical rejection and condemnation of all forms of terrorism and violence — particularly those targeting civilians and places of worship — as such criminal acts constitute a flagrant violation of legal and humanitarian principles, as well as an infringement upon the right to life and the freedom to practice religious rites.”

The Ministry underscored “the need to strengthen international cooperation and join forces to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.” Finally, it expressed “its confidence in the cohesion of the Jordanian people and their ability to thwart attempts to sow discord and division among the various segments of their society.”

The Karak Governorate, which has a population of approximately 375,000, is home to a significant Christian community. According to the Tourism Ministry, Christians make up between 2% and 3% of the country’s population, which is predominantly Muslim.

Attacks on places of worship are rare in Jordan. In December 2016, Karak was the site of an attack that targeted a security post and police patrols. The incident resulted in ten deaths — including seven members of the security forces and one tourist — before the four assailants, who had entrenched themselves within the historic Karak Castle, were shot dead.