Death Toll in Jordan Church Attack Rises to 7 With 40 Injured: King Abdullah Visits Karak as the UN Condemns the Shooting

The death toll from the gun attack during a funeral service at the Hamud church in Jordan's Karak province has risen to at least seven, with 40 people injured. The Jordanian government has described the attack in the country's southeast, which targeted Christians, as a planned 'terrorist attack' by extremist militant groups.

The attack took place on Friday (23 October) at the church in the Al-Mushairfeh area. Many people were attending the funeral; eyewitness Khaled Burkan said the attackers fired indiscriminately at those present for several minutes. Videos circulating on social media showed bloodstains on the floor at the church entrance.

CCTV footage released by Jordan's state television Al-Mamlaka showed at least three gunmen, hiding behind a security wall and trees on the pavement, firing indiscriminately at the church. They then rushed quickly towards the church entrance.

Security forces have launched a sweeping manhunt across Jordan to catch the gunmen involved in the attack, and the investigation is proceeding alongside the search operation.

Shortly after the incident, Jordan's King Abdullah II visited Karak. In a strongly worded statement of condemnation he said: 'This terrorist attack in Karak will be answered as it deserves. Those who think bullets can divide the Jordanian people — that hope will never succeed in the face of our unity.' He also warned that the attackers would be crushed with an 'iron fist'.

At a joint press conference, Major General Abdullah Al-Maitah, head of Jordan's Public Security Directorate, and Interior Minister Mazin Al-Farah said the attack was carried out by extremists. However, they said, investigators are still examining whether any international or domestic militant group was directly involved.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan wrote on X (formerly Twitter): 'This is the outcome of blind extremism and a terrorist ideology. Under no circumstances will our society be allowed to follow this path.'

Condemnation has also poured in internationally. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement: 'Attacks of this kind on civilians and places of worship are completely unacceptable.' The US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, described the attack as a 'barbaric and heinous assault'.

Christians make up a small share of Jordan's population. Although the country is comparatively calm and stable next to other Middle Eastern states, its security forces say they have foiled attacks planned by Islamist extremists at various times in recent years. Against that backdrop, an attack on a public religious ceremony has caused deep concern across the country.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. Questions therefore remain over the attackers' identity and motive, and investigators are now looking for links to any international or domestic militant network.

The 40 injured are receiving treatment, and attention now rests on the nationwide manhunt and the progress of the investigation. While the government is sending messages of unity, grief and fear have yet to lift from Karak's Christian community.