Jordan church attack: 7 killed, 34 wounded at Karak funeral

Key takeaways

• The Jordan church attack happened on Friday, October 23, 2026, when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud (also spelled Hamoud) in Karak governorate, in southern Jordan.
• At a press conference, Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya said at least seven people were killed and 34 wounded. Earlier official figures were six dead and 28 wounded.
• The attackers fled and a manhunt is under way, according to Jordan's Public Security Directorate. No arrests have been reported and no group has claimed responsibility.
• King Abdullah II called the shooting a terrorist attack and promised the "harshest" response against those responsible.

In the Jordan church attack on Friday, gunmen killed at least seven people and wounded 34 at a funeral in a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya said. King Abdullah II called it a terrorist attack, and the attackers remain at large.

Jordan church attack: what happened in Karak

Mourners had gathered at the church in Hammoud, a village in Karak governorate, for a woman's funeral. According to the Public Security Directorate, the assailants arrived by vehicle, stormed the church compound and opened fire as the funeral procession was starting, CBS News reported, citing AFP. Survivors told Al Jazeera they heard an explosion just before the shooting began.

State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka TV reported that two gunmen got out of a vehicle and fired on the mourners. Footage aired by Al-Mamlaka appeared to show two gunmen with pistols and a third carrying a long gun, according to CBS News. A funeral attendee told Reuters that one attacker had a rifle and the other a handgun. An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka the gunmen fired for about five minutes before driving away. The same witness said 150 to 200 people were in and around the church, and that most of the victims were aged between 50 and 70.

Security forces were deployed around the church and began searching for the attackers, Reuters and Al-Mamlaka reported. Mohammad Al-Momani, Jordan's minister of government communication, said in a statement that the security services were investigating and would release information once it had been verified. The Public Security Directorate warned the public not to circulate unofficial information about the attack.

How the death toll changed

Casualty figures changed several times during the day as officials released updates. The most recent official count, given at a press conference by the interior minister, is shown last.

Data as of 16:10 UTC, October 23, 2026. Figures may change as authorities release more information.

What officials said

Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya described the shooting as a "terrorist" and "unprecedented" attack, Al Jazeera reported, and CBS News quoted him as saying a group of extremists was responsible. He did not name the group. "This country will never be dragged into terrorism and violence," Al-Faraya said, according to Al Jazeera.

Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Al-Maaytah, director of the Public Security Directorate, told the same press conference that the perpetrators would be caught and that Jordan's national unity would not be harmed, Al Jazeera reported.

King Abdullah II called the shooting a terrorist attack and vowed the "harshest" retaliation. He said it would not divide Jordanians and offered condolences to the victims' families, The National reported. In a social media post quoted by CBS News, he wrote that "every Jordanian life is precious."

Abroad, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the shooting as a "heinous terrorist attack," CBS News reported.

What we know and what we don't know yet

What we know

• The attack took place on October 23, 2026, during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud, Karak governorate.
• According to the interior minister, at least seven people were killed and 34 wounded. The public security director said 27 of the wounded were still in hospital.
• The attackers came by vehicle and left the scene. According to the Public Security Directorate, a manhunt is under way.

What we don't know yet

• Who the attackers are. Authorities have not identified any suspect. Reports differ on the number of gunmen: Al-Mamlaka said two, while footage it aired appeared to show three.
• The motive. No group has claimed responsibility. Officials have called the attack terrorism but have not said who was behind it.
• Arrests. As of 16:10 UTC, no arrests had been announced.
• The explosion. Survivors described hearing a blast before the shooting. Officials have not confirmed what caused it.

Background: Christians in Jordan and the 2016 Karak attack

Jordan is a majority Sunni Muslim kingdom, and attacks on Christians there are rare, CBS News noted. Christians make up about 300,000 of Jordan's roughly 11.5 million people, according to Al Jazeera. Karak has a long-standing Christian minority. Journalist Taylor Luck of the Christian Science Monitor told Al Jazeera that Christian and Muslim families there have lived side by side for generations.

Karak has been hit by deadly violence before. In December 2016, gunmen attacked police in a series of incidents in the town, including at its Crusader-era castle, which is popular with tourists. Ten people were killed, including seven security officers and a Canadian tourist. Security forces killed the attackers after a long standoff, AP and Al Jazeera reported at the time. The Islamic State group (ISIL) claimed that attack.

Friday's shooting also comes during a tense period for Jordan's security. The National noted that the kingdom has faced Iranian attacks since the United States and Israel struck Iran in February. Elsewhere in the region, an attack on Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia killed one person this week, and the US ordered embassy staff to leave Saudi Arabia. Officials have not linked the Karak shooting to any regional conflict.

What it means

Jordan presents itself abroad as a model of coexistence between Muslims and Christians. Political analyst Xavier Abu Eid told Al Jazeera that the attack runs counter to that message. Because the government has publicly called the shooting terrorism, security in and around churches will probably tighten while the manhunt continues. The investigation will also face pressure to establish quickly who carried out the attack.

Until officials name the attackers or a group claims responsibility, the motive is unknown. Readers should treat claims circulating on social media with caution: the Public Security Directorate has warned against spreading unofficial information. For wider regional context, see our coverage of Washington's stance on Iran talks and our explainer on the Abyei market drone strike. Bullquill will update this story as Jordanian authorities release new information.

Sources

• Al Jazeera (with Reuters): At least seven killed after gunmen open fire at church in Jordan
• CBS News (AFP): At least 7 killed in attack on Jordan church during funeral, authorities say
• ABC News (AP): Jordanian government spokesperson says 6 killed, 28 wounded in church shooting in Karak
• The National: Shooting at church in Jordan's Karak province
• EWTN News / ACI MENA: At least 6 killed, dozens wounded in Jordan as gunmen open fire in church during funeral
• CP24: Jordan church shooting: several killed, wounded, officials say
• Reuters (@Reuters) on X: Six killed in attack at church in Jordan, authorities say