At least seven dead and dozens wounded as gunmen open fire on Christians at packed church in Jordan

Gunmen killed at least seven people and wounded 34 at a church in southern Jordan today in a rare attack on Christians in the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom. Assailants stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate before opening fire. The tally of the dead and wounded has been revised as authorities investigate the deadly attack. At least 27 of those wounded have been sent to hospital for treatment. The gunmen got out of a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession, authorities said, adding that a manhunt is underway for the perpetrators. Footage aired by state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka showed the moment of the attack. In the video, two gunmen are seen dressed in casual clothes and brandishing pistols, with a third carrying a long gun, before they open fire on the church from an entrance on the street and charge forwards. Footage taken from inside the church showed several people lying bleeding and injured on the floor as the people around them tend to their wounds. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack but the country's interior minister said it was carried out by a 'group of extremists', without naming the perpetrators. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces were investigating the attack. Jordan's King Abdullah, meanwhile, said those who carried out the attack will be punished with 'an iron fist'. He wrote in a post to X: 'The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation. Those who delude themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of our unity. Gunmen killed at least six people and wounded 28 at a church in southern Jordan Footage taken from inside the church showed several people lying bleeding and injured on the floor People and security forces gather outside a Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hammoud in Jordan's Karak region following a mass shooting on October 23, 2026 'All Jordanians, from north to south, are partners in land and fate, and nothing stands between them. Our deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured. Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation.' A witness said the gunmen fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing the scene. Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time, the witness said, adding that most of the victims were aged between 50 and 70. Karak is home to a significant Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom, where Christians make up approximately between two and three per cent of the population. Their presence in Karak dates back more than 1,500 years. Though they are a minority group in Jordan, they are guaranteed seats in parliament and have long served as cabinet ministers and ambassadors for the country. The country is home to several biblical sites that attract Christian pilgrims from all over the world. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, the Arab world's only Christian head of state, called the shooting at the church a 'heinous terrorist attack'. He said that it 'reaffirms once again that terrorism has no religion and no homeland, and its aim is to strike at coexistence and spread strife', according to a presidency statement. Attacks on houses of worship in Jordan are rare. In 2016, an attack in Karak targeted a security centre and police patrols, leaving several people dead. Security personnel were seen outside the church after the mass shooting The victims included seven security personnel and a female tourist, before four militants who had barricaded themselves inside Karak's historic castle were killed. Jordan, which hosts American troops, has also been attacked this year by Iran following the fallout of the US-Israeli attacks. An Iranian strike in July in Jordan killed three US soldiers, while a September attack damaged several American military planes.