Jordan: Karak church shooting leaves 7 dead, dozens injured

A shooting at a church in the southern Jordanian governorate of Karak left seven people dead and another 34 wounded on Friday, Jordan's public security director Obaidallah Maaytah said. 

What do we know so far? 

The shooting occurred at the Hammoud Church. The shooting reportedly occurred during a funeral.

The attackers' identities and motives remain unclear. Two men opened fire on the funeral procession.  

A witness told Jordanian state media there were 150 to 200 people present at the church at the time of the shooting.  Videos circulating online showed wounded people on the floor of the church covered in blood, but this footage cannot be verified by DW.

Jordan's Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya said a group of "extremists" carried out the massacre. According to Jordanian outlet Roya News, Al-Faraya said authorities already possess the names of suspects behind the attacks but they will not publicly disclose the identities as of now.   

Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani said security forces have launched a probe into the attack. 

Jordan King Abdullah II: 'We will strike with an iron fist' 

Jordan King Abdullah II said "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," Abdullah II said, adding, "We will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation."   

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, a Christian, also condemned the "heinous terrorist attack" in Jordan and expressed condolences to the victims.  

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz said the news regarding the attack is "devastating."

"Praying for the victims, their families and all those affected by this depraved and brutal attack on a house of worship," Waltz said. "Attacks on Christians continue to escalate worldwide and must be stopped."

Gun attacks like the one on the church in Karak are rare in Jordan. 

Although Jordan is largely a Muslim-majority country of around 11.5 million people, there is a small Christian minority of a couple hundred thousand. The Karak region, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) south of Amman, has a significant Christian population. 

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Edited by: Sean Sinico 

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