At least seven killed after gunmen open fire at church in Jordan
Quick Look
- At least seven people were killed and 10 wounded when masked gunmen opened fire during a funeral at the Hamoud church in Jordan's Karak governorate.
- Security forces are currently pursuing two suspects following the rare attack.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Christians are a minority in Jordan, which has a population of approximately 11.5 million. Attacks of this nature are considered extremely rare in the country.
At least seven people have been killed, and 10 others wounded, in a shooting in Jordan’s Karak governorate that saw gunmen open fire during a funeral at a church.
Jordanian sources told Al Jazeera that at least seven people are confirmed dead after Friday’s attack.
Survivors said they heard an explosion when the funeral procession started, after which masked gunmen broke into the church and began shooting.
State-owned television station Al-Mamlaka reported that security forces were deployed to the Hamoud church and were pursuing two suspects, who reportedly got out of a vehicle before opening fire.
Funeral attendee Khaled Burqan told Al-Mamlaka that dozens of people were at the procession. One of the assailants carried a pistol, he said, and the other carried a rifle.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack; Jordanian authorities have not said who was responsible.
Such attacks are extremely rare in Jordan.
Christians make up a minority of the Jordan’s population of roughly 11.5 million, though the country is home to several biblical sites that attract Christians from around the world.
More to come…
Open Questions
- Who is responsible for the attack?
- What was the motive behind the shooting?
