In brief
Gunmen opened fire on a Greek Orthodox church during a funeral in Hmoud, Jordan, killing seven and wounding dozens. The attack, which lasted about fifteen minutes, has been described by officials as an extremist act of violence. CCTV footage shows the gunmen entering the church before fleeing in a pickup. Jordan’s interior minister has vowed harsh penalties and the king has pledged to confront the terrorists. The tragedy has shocked the local Christian community and drawn international condemnation.
By Jamie Whitehead and Jacob Phillips
Gunmen burst into a Greek Orthodox church in Hmoud, the Karak governorate, on Friday, firing for about fifteen minutes and killing seven people and injuring at least 34 others.
Officials said the attackers arrived in a car, entered the church and then fled in a pick‑up that reportedly kept firing as it left. The assailants have not yet claimed responsibility.
Interior Minister Mazen al‑Faraya called the violence “unparalleled in Jordan’s history” and described the perpetrators as a “group of extremists.” King Abdullah II vowed “harsh penalties” against those who carried out the attack.
CCTV footage, verified by the BBC, shows three men approaching the church from a side road, one entering the premises alone, then the others following. The video cuts to scenes of chaos with bodies and wounded people on the ground, confirming the severity of the incident.
Witnesses described frantic attempts to seek shelter under pews, while shouting and the screams of mourners filled the air. The gunfire lasted roughly fifteen minutes, with some survivors describing the attack as “catastrophic.”
Security forces have mounted a tight perimeter around a local hospital treating the wounded, and the governorate’s roads were temporarily suspended to allow emergency services. The incident has stirred anger among residents, many of whom expressed frustration at the state’s handling of terrorism.
Such a violent act is a rare shock in a country that prides itself on stability. The Greek Orthodox community in Karak has been particularly affected, and international leaders have condemned the attack and called for continued peace.
