Islamist gunmen's attack on Jordan church leaves 8 dead

KARAK, Jordan,— Eight people were killed and 40 wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at Hamoud Church in Karak governorate on Friday, Jordanian officials said.

Authorities described the shooting as a terrorist attack carried out by extremists.

Public Security Directorate chief Major General Abdallah al-Maaytah said most of the wounded remained under medical care as security forces continued searching for the attackers.

The death toll rose from seven to eight by Saturday, the health minister said.

Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh said extremists carried out the attack, but investigators had not determined whether the suspects were linked to known groups inside or outside Jordan. No group immediately claimed responsibility.

Footage broadcast by state-owned Al-Mamlaka television appeared to show three gunmen firing toward the church from a sidewalk before taking cover behind trees and a low wall.

They then ran toward the entrance. Reuters verified the footage using the church’s entrance path, surrounding wall and other details.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan condemned the attack in a post on X, blaming terrorist ideology and extremism. He said the government would not allow such beliefs to lead society toward violence.

Khaled Burqan, who attended the funeral, told Al-Mamlaka that dozens of people were present when the gunmen fired for several minutes. Another witness, Ihab Ammareen, said he saw injured people collapse to the floor.

King Abdullah visited Karak hours after the shooting and vowed a forceful response. The king said those responsible would face severe punishment and stressed that the attack would not divide Jordanians.

Islamist gunmen kill attack Karak Jordan Christian church oct 24 2026 — Islamist gunmen kill at least eight Christians in an attack on a church in Karak, Jordan, October 23, 2026. Photo: Screengrab/CCTV video/Reuters.

Reuters footage from the church showed blood on the floor near the entrance, where security forces had been deployed.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack on X, saying violence against civilians and places of worship was unacceptable.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz also condemned the shooting, calling it a brutal attack on a place of worship.

At a government hospital in Karak, people gathered to support the wounded. Hani Al-Mbaydeen said the attack had left the community speechless and urged the state to investigate the origins of extremist ideas and how they reach young people.

Attacks of this kind are rare in Jordan, a relatively stable U.S. ally. Jordanian authorities have repeatedly said they have foiled attempted attacks by Islamist militants in recent years.

Christians make up a minority of Jordan’s population. The country also contains several biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims from around the world.

Jordan was among the U.S. allies in the region targeted by Iranian attacks this year, following U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in February.

In April 2025, Jordan banned the Muslim Brotherhood, the country’s largest opposition group, and moved to seize its properties and assets.

(With files from Reuters)