Death toll rises to nine in armed attack on church in Jordan

Two of those injured in an armed attack that occurred on Friday (23) in a church in southern Jordan died from their injuries, bringing the total number of deaths to nine. The information was released this Saturday (24) to AFP by the Minister of Health, Ibrahim Al Bdour.

"The number of fatalities in the attack on the church in the town of Hammud", in Karak province, "increased to nine after the death of a second injured person who was in critical condition", said the minister. According to him, 25 people remained hospitalized.

During the morning, the death of an eighth victim had been confirmed. On Friday (23), authorities had recorded seven deaths and 34 injuries.

According to the Public Security Directorate, the attackers invaded a Greek-Orthodox church and opened fire on a funeral procession.

Interior Minister Mazen Al Faraya said the unusual attack against the country's mostly Sunni Muslim Christian community was carried out by "a group of extremists."

"The security services are mobilized tirelessly to locate the perpetrators," he declared.

King Abdullah II of Jordan visited the wounded admitted to the hospital and stated, in a publication on X, that "the terrorist attack against Karak will receive the harshest response."

"The safety and security of Jordanians are red lines that must not be crossed," added the monarch this Saturday, after a Security Council meeting.

The country's Prime Minister, Jafar Hassan, decreed three days of national mourning starting Friday, with flags at half-mast in government and public institutions.