Jordan church attack: 7 killed as gunmen open fire at Karak funeral
Gunmen killed seven mourners at a Greek Orthodox church near Karak in southern Jordan. King Abdullah called it terrorism, and a manhunt for the attackers is under way.
At a glance
- Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, Karak governorate, southern Jordan, on Friday, October 23, 2026.
- Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said seven people were killed. Official figures for the wounded range from 34 to 40, and the health minister said two are critical.
- King Abdullah II called it a terrorist attack and promised to strike back with an iron fist. Jordan declared three days of national mourning.
- At least three attackers fled after shooting for several minutes. Security forces have sealed Karak governorate's exits and are hunting them; no arrests had been announced by Saturday afternoon.
Gunmen opened fire on mourners at a funeral inside a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, Karak governorate, southern Jordan, on Friday, October 23, 2026, killing seven people and wounding dozens. King Abdullah II called it a terrorist attack. Security forces have sealed off the governorate and are hunting the attackers, who escaped.
What happened
The attack took place in the village of Hammoud, near the city of Karak, about 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of the capital, Amman. Between 150 and 200 people were in or around the church for a funeral service when the shooting began.
A mourner said gunfire broke out about 15 minutes after the service started. Footage shown on Jordanian state television showed two men in casual clothes with pistols walking up to the church and firing. A third man with a semi-automatic rifle then joined them, and the three ran towards the church. Some witnesses said there were four gunmen, a number that has not been confirmed.
An eyewitness said the attackers shot for about five minutes before driving away. Most of the victims were reportedly aged between 50 and 70. Video filmed by witnesses showed broken glass across the church floor.
| Detail | What is known |
|---|---|
| Date | Friday, October 23, 2026 |
| Place | Greek Orthodox church, Hammoud village, Karak governorate |
| Killed | 7 (interior ministry) |
| Wounded | 34 to 40 (official figures vary); 2 critical |
| Attackers | At least 3, armed with pistols and a rifle; fled by vehicle |
| Arrests | None announced as of Saturday afternoon |
| Mourning | Three days of national mourning |
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya told a news conference that a group of extremists carried out the attack. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of the wounded were in critical condition, and at least 27 people were still in hospital.
Officials said the identities of attackers had been established and that security forces were searching for them and others believed to belong to the same cell. Roads into and out of Karak governorate were closed to stop the suspects escaping. Officials declined to give a timeline for arrests.
Background
Jordan is a majority Sunni Muslim kingdom with an old and well-established Christian minority, estimated at a few per cent of the population. Karak has one of the country's larger Christian communities, with families that have lived there for centuries. Attacks on Christians in Jordan are rare, and the kingdom often presents itself as a model of coexistence between faiths.
Karak has been hit by militant violence before. In December 2016, gunmen attacked police posts in and around the city and then took refuge in Karak's Crusader-era castle, a popular tourist site. Ten people, including seven police officers, were killed before security forces ended the standoff and killed the attackers. The Islamic State group later claimed that attack.
No group had claimed Friday's shooting by Saturday afternoon.
Reactions
King Abdullah II offered condolences to the victims' families and promised the harshest response. "Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation," he wrote on social media.
Prime Minister Jafar Hassan blamed "terrorist ideology" and blind extremism and said those responsible would be punished. Government spokesman Mohammed al-Momani said investigations were moving at full speed. The state Petra news agency announced three days of national mourning.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the attack especially heinous and urged that those responsible be found and held to account. Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun called it a heinous terrorist act and said terrorism has no religion or homeland. Syria, Egypt, Oman and Iraq also condemned the attack, and Ahmed al-Tayeb, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in Cairo, called it a heinous terrorist attack. Pakistan's foreign office condemned the shooting and repeated its rejection of terrorism in all forms.
Why it matters
Jordan has stayed relatively stable while war and unrest have hit its neighbours: Syria, Iraq, Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. An attack on a church at a funeral strikes at the kingdom's image of religious harmony, and it may lead to tighter security at churches and public gatherings across the country.
The attack also comes at a tense time across the region, with fighting in the West Bank, threats of new US strikes on Iran and pressure on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Jordan is a close US ally and hosts large numbers of refugees, so any sign of a militant cell operating inside the country will worry its neighbours and Western partners.
What happens next
The manhunt in Karak governorate is continuing, and officials have promised to release more details as the investigation goes on. Funerals for the victims are expected during the three days of mourning. Security around churches is likely to be increased ahead of Sunday services. GlobeHourly will update this report when arrests are made or a group claims responsibility.
Questions people are asking
What happened at the church in Karak, Jordan?
On Friday, October 23, 2026, gunmen stormed a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud village, Karak governorate, during a funeral and opened fire on the mourners. Seven people were killed and dozens wounded before the attackers escaped.
Who attacked the church in Jordan?
The attackers have not been named. The interior minister blamed a group of extremists, the prime minister blamed terrorist ideology, and officials said the suspects' identities were known and a manhunt was under way.
How many people were killed in the Jordan church shooting?
Seven people were killed, according to Jordan's interior minister. Officials have given figures of 34 to 40 wounded, and two of the wounded were in critical condition.
