King Abdullah Orders Harshest Penalties After Seven Die in Karak Church Shooting

King Abdullah II of Jordan directed authorities to impose the harshest penalties on those responsible for a shooting at a church funeral in the Karak governorate. The royal decree followed an attack that left seven people dead and at least 34 others injured on Friday in the town of Hmoud.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya identified the attackers as a group of extremists during a news conference. He described the incident as unparalleled in the history of the Hashemite Kingdom. The minister stated that police are actively working to arrest the suspects, who have not yet been identified. No group or individual has formally claimed responsibility for the violence.

Witnesses reported that the gunmen arrived by car and entered the building, where they opened fire for approximately 15 minutes. Khalid al-Mdanat, who was present during the attack, said people tried to flee while the shooting was still active. He described the gunmen escaping through the church doors in a pickup truck while firing. Another witness noted that the situation escalated for 10 continuous minutes after the gunfire began. A woman inside the church reported seeing bodies in the courtyards after she exited the building.

Verified CCTV footage shows three men approaching the church from a road. The recording depicts two of them entering what appears to be a vehicle entrance, retreating briefly, and then re-entering with a third man. All three individuals appear to be carrying handguns. The footage captures the chaotic aftermath, with dead and wounded people lying on the ground.

Hospital entrances in Karak saw heavy security presence as roads nearby were closed. The closures forced visitors to park their vehicles and walk to the facilities. King Abdullah II visited the injured patients, prompting further tightening of security in the area. Families gathered at the hospital, crying and shouting as they mourned the deceased.

The Karak region holds a sizeable Christian community within Jordan's majority Muslim population. While violent attacks are rare in the country, deadly incidents have occurred previously. Residents expressed frustration with what they called a lack of tougher approaches toward terrorists in the past.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the event as a heinous terrorist attack. According to Lebanese media, he stated that the violence violated the sanctity of funeral mourners and contradicted religious and humanitarian values.