Jordanian security forces have launched a massive manhunt after gunmen stormed a church funeral in the southern Karak governorate, killing six mourners and wounding at least 28 others.
The brazen attack unfolded as worshippers gathered to pay their respects, shattering the solemn proceedings when multiple armed assailants unleashed a hail of gunfire into the congregation before fleeing the scene, BBC World reported.
Ambush during memorial rites in Karak
Local medical facilities were quickly overwhelmed as emergency services rushed dozens of casualties from the church grounds. Health officials in Karak confirmed that at least 28 people sustained injuries, several of whom remain in a critical condition in intensive care units, raising fears that the death toll could climb.
The assault targeted a Christian community gathering in a region renowned for its deep historical roots, prompting an immediate security lockdown. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as families attempted to shield children and elderly relatives amidst the barrage of bullets.
Extensive security cordon and desert search
Jordanian authorities responded by deploying heavily armed special forces and anti-terror units across the southern province. Roadblocks were swiftly erected along major arterial routes connecting Karak to the capital, Amman, and surrounding desert highways in an effort to prevent the perpetrators from escaping across provincial boundaries.
While no group immediately claimed responsibility for the bloodshed, authorities have mobilised aerial surveillance and canine units to scour rugged terrain and nearby villages. Officials emphasised that counter-terrorism investigators are pursuing multiple leads to identify the perpetrators and establish their motives.
Vulnerability in a traditional bastion of stability
The violence strikes a sensitive nerve in the Hashemite Kingdom, long regarded by Western allies, including Australia, as a vital anchor of stability amidst persistent upheaval across the Middle East. Jordan has largely avoided the civil conflicts that have devastated neighbouring Syria and Iraq, though it faces recurring domestic security challenges.
Karak itself has previously witnessed high-profile security incidents, notably in December 2016 when an Islamic State cell mounted a deadly siege at the city's historic Crusader castle, killing ten people, including a Canadian tourist.
Jordan’s Christian minority comprises roughly two to three per cent of the kingdom’s predominantly Sunni Muslim population. Christians hold designated seats in parliament and have historically enjoyed peaceful coexistence and state protection under King Abdullah II, making targeted violence against Christian religious sites exceedingly rare.
Authorities plead for calm as investigation widens
The shooting has prompted widespread sorrow and urgent calls for national unity across the country. Government spokespeople urged citizens to disregard unverified speculation circulating on social media networks, reiterating that state security agencies would bring those responsible to swift justice.
Hospital staff in Karak continue to operate around the clock to treat gunshot victims, with appeals issued for local blood donations as the kingdom braces for the fallout from one of its deadliest domestic attacks in recent years.