At least seven people were killed and 40 others injured after a gunman opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan on Friday. The country's Public Security Directorate confirmed the death toll, describing the rare attack on Jordan's Christian minority as an act of terrorism linked to extremist ideology. The shooting took place at Hamoud Church in the Karak governorate. Authorities launched a search for the attackers, while most of those injured continued to receive medical treatment. Major General Abdallah al-Maaytah said the investigation and search operation were still underway. Jordan's health minister separately confirmed that 40 people had sustained injuries in the attack. Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh said "extremists" were responsible for the shooting. However, he cautioned that investigators had not yet established whether the attackers had connections to any known militant organisations operating inside or outside Jordan. Attacks targeting Christians are uncommon in Jordan, a country considered relatively stable in a region affected by prolonged conflict. However, Jordanian authorities have repeatedly said they have thwarted attempted attacks by Islamist militants in recent years. No organisation had claimed responsibility for the shooting at the time of reporting.

Security Footage Shows Gunmen Firing Near Church

Jordan's state-owned Al-Mamlaka television broadcast footage that appeared to come from a security camera at the church. The video showed three people firing from a pavement near the building while taking cover behind trees and a low wall. The footage then showed the suspected attackers moving towards the church entrance. Authorities continued searching for those responsible as investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the attack and determine whether a wider extremist network was involved.

Jordan's Prime Minister Condemns Extremist Ideology

Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan condemned the attack in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. He blamed extremist thinking for the violence and vowed to prevent such ideology from dividing society. "This is a result of a terrorist ideology and blind extremism, and we will not allow society to go down this path," he wrote. King Abdullah also strongly condemned the shooting. The monarch, who works closely with the United States in efforts to counter militant Islamist groups, travelled to Karak just hours after the attack. He promised a forceful response against those responsible and stressed that the attack would not weaken national unity. "The terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation. Those who delude themselves into thinking that they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of our unity," he said in a statement. The king's visit and remarks underlined the government's determination to hold the perpetrators accountable and prevent extremist violence from creating divisions within Jordanian society.

UN and US Condemn the Attack

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the shooting in a post on X. He said attacks against civilians and places of worship were unacceptable. The US ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, described the incident as a "depraved and brutal attack on a house of worship" in a statement shared on X. The international reactions reflected widespread condemnation of the violence and concern over the targeting of a religious gathering. Jordan is a key US partner in the Middle East and has cooperated with Washington in efforts to combat militant groups. The country was also among the US allies in the region affected by Iranian attacks this year, following US and Israeli strikes against Iran in February.

Residents Demand Investigation Into Extremist Ideas

The shooting shocked residents who gathered at a government hospital in Karak to support the wounded and their families. Hani Al-Mbaydeen, one of those present at the hospital, described the community's distress and called on authorities to investigate how extremist ideas spread among young people. "What happened today has left people unable to speak or raise our voices. But our only reproach to the state is that it must investigate these dark ideas — where they come from and how they enter the minds of our children," he said, according to Reuters. As the investigation continues, authorities face the task of identifying the attackers, determining their possible affiliations and establishing the motive behind the shooting. The attack has raised fresh concerns about extremist violence in Jordan, particularly because it targeted a funeral at a church. The government has vowed a strong response, while international leaders have condemned the killing of civilians and the targeting of a place of worship.