Gunmen stormed a packed funeral inside a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan and opened fire on mourners, killing seven people and wounding dozens more, in an attack officials call terrorism but still cannot fully explain.
Story Snapshot
- Seven people died and up to 40 were wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St. George’s Church in Hmoud, Karak governorate, on October 23, 2026.
- Jordan’s Interior Minister called the attackers “extremists” but said it is too early to link them to any known terror group.
- No organization has claimed responsibility, and the gunmen remain unidentified days after the shooting.
- King Abdullah vowed “justice will reach every terrorist” as condemnations poured in from the Vatican, Bulgaria, Pakistan and other nations.
Gunmen Opened Fire During a Packed Funeral
The attack happened inside St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hmoud, about 90 kilometers south of Amman, as mourners gathered for a funeral service. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate chief, Major General Abdallah al-Maaytah, said gunmen opened fire on the crowd, leaving seven dead and dozens wounded. Reuters confirmed the death toll and said at least 40 people were injured.
Interior Minister Mazin Al-Farrayeh told reporters the shooting was carried out by “extremists” and described it as a terrorist act. But he stopped short of saying who the attackers were. He told the press it was too early to know whether they had ties to any known group operating inside or outside Jordan.
Officials Call It Terrorism, But Key Questions Stay Unanswered
Survivors described chaos as masked men entered the church grounds and began shooting. Al Jazeera reported accounts of an explosion before the gunfire started, while UPI cited a witness who said one attacker carried an AK-47 rifle. Security camera footage reviewed by multiple outlets appeared to show several armed men moving through the church compound before fleeing the scene.
Despite the strong language used by Jordanian officials, no group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack. Vatican News and UPI both reported that, as of their latest updates, no organization had come forward. That gap leaves the government’s “terrorist act” label resting mainly on official statements rather than a confirmed motive or named suspect.
Conflicting Numbers Reveal a Fast-Moving Investigation
Early coverage of the attack contained mismatched details that have since been only partly resolved. Some outlets reported six deaths before the toll rose to seven, and wounded counts ranged between 34 and 40. Reports also disagreed on how many attackers took part, with some describing two suspects and others citing footage showing three gunmen. These shifts reflect a fluid early investigation, not evidence the attack itself did not happen.
Jordanian authorities have not released the full crime-scene footage, forensic findings, or details of any arrests connected to the case. Without that information made public, outside observers cannot independently verify the government’s terrorism classification or confirm how many attackers were involved. The investigation remains open, and officials have given no timeline for additional updates.
King Abdullah Vows Justice as World Leaders Condemn Attack
King Abdullah II said “justice will reach every terrorist” responsible for the Karak attack, and Jordan declared a period of national mourning for the victims. Condemnations arrived quickly from abroad, including from the Vatican, Bulgaria’s foreign ministry and Pakistan’s government, all of whom denounced the assault on worshippers during a funeral.
A survivor and an injured woman recount the terrifying moments of the attack on Hammoud Church in Jordan’s Karak governorate.
Speaking to Roya, they describe the incident, which took place as they attended a funeral, as an unimaginable nightmare. pic.twitter.com/UDjqZ07sk3
— Roya News English (@RoyaNewsEnglish) October 24, 2026
The attack has reignited concern about the safety of Christian minorities across the Middle East, a region where Jordan has largely avoided the sectarian violence seen in neighboring countries. It also raises a broader question shared by citizens across the political spectrum: whether governments, even in relatively stable nations, can still protect people gathered peacefully for worship, and whether the public will ever get a full accounting of who was responsible.
Sources:
thegatewaypundit.com, apnews.com, vaticannews.va, bbc.com
