The key facts

  • Two gunmen attacked a funeral at the Hammud church in Karak province and fled the scene
  • At least seven killed and about ten wounded, according to state media
  • The identities and motives of the attackers are unknown; security forces have been deployed

Attack during a funeral

On Friday, October 23, unidentified attackers opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan's Karak province. According to the state-run Petra agency, the incident took place and there are casualties. As a relative of one of the victims told The National, the shooting occurred at the funeral of a woman in the village of Hammud, a Christian settlement north of Karak. According to him, two gunmen who arrived in a car opened fire on the mourners and fled.

Casualties and the authorities' response

The state broadcaster Al Mamlaka and the BBC, citing state media, report at least seven killed and about ten wounded. Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said security forces have been deployed to the scene. Footage from the site shows emergency personnel arriving.

Details and context

A security source told Al Mamlaka that the shooting took place at the Hammud church during a funeral procession. The identities of the attackers and their motives remain unknown. According to DW, such attacks are rare in Jordan: the country, with a population of about 11.5 million, is home to a Christian minority of several hundred thousand people, and the Karak region, located roughly 100–180 km south of Amman (outlets give differing estimates of the distance), has a significant Christian community.