23-10-2026
At least six people were killed and at least 28 others injured when gunmen opened fire inside a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan’s Karak region, according to the Public Security Directorate. The attack occurred during a funeral, with between 150 and 200 people inside the church, the state news agency reported. Karak is about 180 kilometres south of the capital, Amman, and has a significant Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom.
Authorities said the assailants were unidentified and an investigation was underway. State-owned media initially reported that seven people had died, while the Public Security Directorate’s reported toll was at least six. An eyewitness told the news outlet that a vehicle arrived carrying the gunmen. They reportedly fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing.
Authorities said they would announce the investigation’s findings as they became available. The report provides no information about the attackers’ identities, their motive, or whether any arrests had been made. It focuses on the reported casualties, the circumstances of the shooting, and the ongoing official investigation.
Entities: Jordan, Karak region, Amman, Public Security Directorate, Greek Orthodox church • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
At least six people were killed and 28 wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at Hamoud church in Jordan’s Karak governorate on Friday, October 23, 2026. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed the six deaths; Jordanian sources had earlier told Al Jazeera that seven people were killed. Survivors said they heard an explosion as the funeral procession began, followed by masked gunmen entering the church and shooting. A funeral attendee told state-owned Al-Mamlaka television that one attacker carried a pistol and the other a rifle. Security forces were deployed and reportedly pursued two suspects who had arrived in a vehicle. Authorities had not identified those responsible, and no one had claimed responsibility for the attack.
The article notes that attacks of this kind are rare in Jordan, where Christians number about 300,000 among a population of roughly 11.5 million. Karak has experienced violence before: in 2016, ISIL attackers killed 10 people, including security officers and a Canadian tourist, before Jordanian forces killed the attackers.
The shooting has particular significance for Karak’s history of interfaith coexistence and for Jordan’s public image. Christian Science Monitor correspondent Taylor Luck described the area as a community where Christians and Muslims have lived alongside one another for generations, and said it takes pride in solidarity and coexistence. He suggested that if the attack was meant to create divisions, the community could respond by becoming more united. Political analyst Xavier Abu Eid said the incident also affects Jordan’s public diplomacy as custodian of Christian and Muslim holy sites in Jerusalem. He said the attack conflicts with the message Jordan seeks to convey internationally, particularly as King Abdullah II has criticized attacks on religious sites in occupied Palestinian territory.
Entities: Hamoud church, Karak governorate, Jordan, Jordan Public Security Directorate, Al-Mamlaka • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
At least seven people were killed and 10 others injured when two gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan’s Karak governorate, according to state media. The attackers reportedly arrived by car, entered the church and fired at mourners for several minutes before fleeing. Their identities and motive have not been reported, and no group or individual has claimed responsibility.
A mourner, Khaled Burqan, told Jordan’s state-run al-Mamlaka television that dozens of people were attending the funeral when the shooting began. He said the assailants were armed with a rifle and a pistol. A separate witness told AFP that between 150 and 200 people were in the church at the time. Footage believed to show the aftermath appeared to depict dead and wounded people on the ground amid chaotic scenes.
Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani condemned the attack as “heinous” and said security forces had been deployed to the area. A briefing by Interior Ministry officials was expected shortly after the report was published.
The attack occurred in Karak, an area with a sizeable Christian community in Jordan, a majority-Muslim country. The report notes that such violence is rare in Jordan, although deadly attacks have occurred there previously. The article provides no further information about the victims, the condition of the injured, or the investigation into the shooting.
Entities: Jordan, Karak governorate, Khaled Burqan, Mohammad al-Momani, al-Mamlaka TV • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
At least seven people were killed and 10 others wounded in a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church compound in southern Jordan on Friday, according to authorities. The Public Security Directorate said two assailants entered the compound in the village of Hammoud, in Karak governorate, and opened fire. The article does not identify the victims or provide details about their condition beyond the reported number of people wounded. It also does not state a motive or describe the assailants further.
Government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani said in a statement that security services were investigating the shooting. Karak is home to a minority Christian population, a detail the report includes as context for the attack’s location. The article provides no further information about the investigation, whether anyone had been arrested, or whether authorities believed the church or its community was specifically targeted. It labels the report as breaking news and notes that details could change as updates become available. The Associated Press contributed to the report.
Entities: Jordan, Karak governorate, Hammoud, Greek Orthodox church, Public Security Directorate • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
A shooting at Hammoud Church in Jordan’s southern Karak governorate killed six people and wounded 28 others on Friday, according to the Public Security Directorate. The attack reportedly took place during a funeral, when two men opened fire on the funeral procession. A witness told Jordanian state media that between 150 and 200 people were at the church at the time. The attackers’ identities and motives were not known at the time of reporting.
Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani said security forces had begun investigating the attack. Videos circulating online appeared to show wounded people inside the church, but DW said it could not independently verify the footage. The article notes that gun attacks are rare in Jordan, a country of about 11.5 million people with a Muslim-majority population and a Christian minority numbering a few hundred thousand. Karak, located about 180 kilometers south of Amman, has a significant Christian population.
Entities: Karak, Hammoud Church, Jordan, Amman, Jordan Public Security Directorate • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
At least seven people were killed and 10 injured after two gunmen opened fire during a funeral procession at Hamoud church in Jordan’s Karak governorate on Friday, according to the state-owned television station Al-Mamlaka. The attackers reportedly arrived by vehicle, got out, and fired on people attending the funeral. Khaled Burqan, a funeral attendee, told the station that dozens of people were present and described one attacker carrying a rifle and the other a pistol. He said they fired for several minutes.
Security forces deployed to the church and were pursuing the suspects, Al-Mamlaka reported. At the time of the report, no group had claimed responsibility, and Jordanian authorities had not identified who was responsible. The article provides no further information about the victims or the investigation.
The report notes that attacks of this kind are extremely rare in Jordan, which it describes as relatively stable. It also says the country has faced increasing Iranian attacks this year, following US and Israeli strikes against Iran in February; it does not establish a connection between those events and the church shooting. Christians are a minority in Jordan, which is home to several biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims from around the world.
Entities: Jordan, Karak governorate, Hamoud church, Amman, Al-Mamlaka • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
At least seven people were killed and about 10 wounded when two gunmen attacked a Greek Orthodox church compound in Hammoud, a village in Jordan’s southern Karak governorate, on Oct. 23, according to Jordanian authorities. Some of the injured were in critical condition. The Public Security Directorate said the attackers arrived by vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession. They then fled, and authorities said a manhunt was under way. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces were investigating the attack.
An eyewitness interviewed by Jordanian state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka described a vehicle arriving with the gunmen, who fired continuously for about five minutes before escaping. The witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time. Most of the victims, the witness said, were aged between 50 and 70.
The attack took place in Karak, which has a significant Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom. The article reports the casualty figures and the initial official response but does not identify a motive or the attackers. The authorities’ investigation and search for the perpetrators were ongoing at the time of publication.
Entities: Hammoud, Karak governorate, Jordan, Greek Orthodox church, Public Security Directorate • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
23-10-2026
At least six people were killed and 28 injured when two unidentified gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, a Christian village north of Karak, on Friday, October 23, 2026. The Public Security Directorate confirmed the casualty figures, while Petra News Agency also reported details of the attack. A relative of one of the deceased told The National that the assailants arrived in a vehicle, fired at mourners and fled. A witness quoted by state broadcaster Al Mamlaka TV said the shooting continued for about five minutes. Between 150 and 200 people were in or around the church, and most of the victims were reportedly between 50 and 70 years old. A member of the Halasah family told The National that three doctors were among those killed. The relative described the incident as a direct attack on the church and said Christians were the target. Earlier reporting by Al Mamlaka had given a higher death toll of at least seven and said more than 10 people were wounded. Security personnel were shown at the scene, and authorities were investigating. No group had claimed responsibility, and officials had not identified who was responsible. The article notes that attacks of this kind are rare in Jordan, a comparatively stable, Muslim-majority kingdom with a Christian minority. It also notes that Jordan has faced Iranian attacks since the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran in February. Karak is about 100 kilometres from Amman, and Jordan is home to biblical sites that draw Christian pilgrims.
Entities: Karak governorate, Hamoud, Jordan, Amman, Greek Orthodox church • Tone: neutral • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
