At least six people shot dead and 28 injured at church in Jordan as police hunt for two gunmen

At least six people have been killed and a further 28 injured after two gunmen opened fire at a funeral church in Jordan. State media said the gunmen got out of a vehicle and started shooting during a funeral procession at the Hammoud church in Karak, situated around 110 miles south of the capital Amman. The "unidentified" gunmen are currently being pursued, the security agency has confirmed. There has been no immediate claim of responsibility. Jordanian authorities have also not confirmed who was responsible or the motives, though Government officials have described the attack as a "terrorist crime". Jordan’s government spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani wrote on social media: "Security forces are following up on an incident of gunfire in Karak Governorate." He added: "We call on everyone to give space to the security forces to take the necessary measures and to obtain information from its official sources." Mr Al-Momani later confirmed the Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, will today chair a meeting at the Karak Governorate building to "follow up on the work of all relevant agencies in dealing with the heinous terrorist crime." A press conference has been scheduled for the country's Minister of Interior, the Minister of Government Communication, and the Director of Public Security at 5.30pm (3.30pm BST). King Abdullah II said Jordan will "confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties". "All Jordanians, from the north of the homeland to its south, are partners in the land and the stance, and no treachery will penetrate between them," he wrote on social media. LATEST WORLD NEWS "Our deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, and our wishes for recovery to the wounded. "The blood of Jordanians is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against anyone who oversteps against this country." Khaled Burqan, a witness who had been attending the funeral at St George's Greek Orthodox Church in northern Karak, told TV channel Al Mamlaka that dozens of people had been attending the ceremony. He said the two men, one carrying a rifle and another carrying a pistol, opened fire on the group for several minutes. Eyewtiness Tamer Halsa told the outlet that "more than 150 people" were around the church at the time of the attack, mourning the death of a community member. "Some guys were standing outside the church before two people got out of a vehicle and started shooting," he said. While Christians make up just 2.1 per cent of the Jordanian population, according to a 2023 US Department of State report, the country is home to several holy and biblical Christian sites. The largest Christian demonination is said to be the Greek Orthodox Church. In comparison, the report estimates at least 97 per cent of Jordan is Muslim. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter Follow related topics: