Nine killed in attack on funeral at Jordanian church
Gunmen opened fire on mourners gathered for a funeral procession at a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud, in Jordan's Karak Governorate, killing nine people and wounding approximately 40 others. The attackers escaped by vehicle and authorities launched a manhunt while the motive for the assault remains unclear.
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Witnesses described an explosion that occurred as the funeral procession began, followed by masked gunmen entering the church and firing for several minutes. Jordan's Public Security Directorate director Obaidullah Al-Maaytah initially reported seven deaths and 34 injuries, noting that 27 of the wounded received hospital treatment. He stated that "the perpetrators will be caught and our national unity will not be hit." Two additional victims subsequently died from their injuries, raising the death toll to nine and the wounded to approximately 40, according to CNN. State broadcaster Al-Mamlaka reported that security forces at the scene pursued two suspects who had emerged from a vehicle, opened fire, and then fled. Khaled Burqan, who attended the funeral, told Al-Mamlaka that dozens of people had assembled for the procession when the attack began. The search for the gunmen continues as authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive for the assault, which targeted Jordan's Christian community during a religious ceremony.
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