Funeral Massacre: Jordan Declares Three-Day Mourning After Eight Die in Karak Church

King Abdullah directed Jordan's security forces to pursue the suspects behind a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate, according to the royal court. The attack left eight people dead and forty others wounded. The incident occurred on Friday in broad daylight while a funeral service was taking place.

The shooting took place roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Gunmen fired for several minutes before the sound subsided. Jordanian officials labeled the event an act of extremist terrorism. No group has claimed responsibility for the violence. State media reported that the country entered a three-day period of national mourning. Authorities stated it was too early to determine if the attackers had links to known groups inside or outside Jordan.

King Abdullah traveled to Karak within hours of the shooting. He vowed that the perpetrators would be punished with an iron fist. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan posted on social media that the attack resulted from a terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He added that the government would not allow society to go down that path. The US embassy in Amman confirmed that Jordan increased security at shopping malls, foreign embassies, and other sites across the country.

Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived the incident, described the scene to Reuters. He said one attacker stood about two meters away and aimed a handgun at him. Later, his son called to say he had been shot in the leg and was receiving hospital treatment. Al-Burqan said he looked out a window after the gunfire stopped and saw two assailants. One was masked, and the other was unmasked and carrying a handgun.

Tarek Ammarin, whose relative was injured, described the event at a local hospital. He called it a massacre in every sense of the word. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village in Karak, condemned the attack as wicked. He said God willing the country would remain safe. Police were seen patrolling outside the church on Saturday. Attacks of this type are rare in Jordan, though authorities say they have foiled plots by violent groups in recent years. Karak is home to a minority Christian population and several biblical sites that attract pilgrims.

The search for the perpetrators continues. Security forces have tightened their presence in the region. The royal court said the response would be firm. The wounded are being treated in local hospitals. The three-day mourning period is set to conclude. Officials are reviewing security protocols at religious sites. The next scheduled step involves a formal review of the security grid by the cabinet.