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At least seven people were killed and about 10 others wounded after two unidentified gunmen opened fire inside Hammoud Church in Karak governorate in southern Jordan on Friday, according to Jordanian authorities.
A security source told state-owned Al-Mamlaka television that some of the wounded were in critical condition. Security forces were deployed to the church and were pursuing the suspects, the broadcaster reported.
Government Communications Minister Mohammed Al-Momani said security services were investigating the shooting, urging the public to rely on official information as authorities worked to establish the circumstances of the attack.
An eyewitness told Al-Mamlaka that a vehicle carrying the gunmen arrived at the scene before the two men got out and opened fire for about five minutes before fleeing.
The shooting took place during a funeral procession, with dozens of mourners gathered at the church. The witness estimated that between 150 and 200 people were inside and around the building at the time, adding that most of the victims were between 50 and 70 years old.
Authorities had not publicly identified the suspects or announced a motive for the shooting. No group had claimed responsibility for the attack in the initial reports, while security forces continued efforts to track down those responsible.
Karak, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Amman, has an established Christian community in predominantly Muslim Jordan.
The kingdom is also home to major Christian pilgrimage sites, including Bethany Beyond the Jordan, traditionally identified as the site of Jesus’ baptism, and Mount Nebo, associated with the biblical account of Moses viewing the Promised Land.
Violence of this kind is rare in Jordan, which has generally remained relatively stable compared with several countries in the region.
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