Gunmen opened fire during a funeral in Karak governorate, prompting a nationwide security response and an ongoing search for the attackers.
HAMOUD, Jordan — Nine people were killed and dozens were wounded after gunmen opened fire on mourners gathered for a funeral at St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in southern Jordan, authorities said, as security forces continued searching Saturday for those responsible.
The Oct. 23 attack in the village of Hamoud, in Karak governorate, was described by Jordanian officials as an act of terrorism. The death toll rose to nine Saturday after another person died from injuries, Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said. Earlier official figures listed 34 people as wounded, while subsequent reporting put the number of injured at about 40. Authorities had not publicly announced arrests, and no organization had claimed responsibility.
The gunfire began while mourners were gathered at the church for a funeral. Surveillance footage reviewed by news organizations showed several armed men approaching the church and opening fire before moving toward the compound. Witnesses described people trying to take cover as the shooting continued for several minutes. Authorities have not publicly established the total number of people involved in the attack.
Jordan’s Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya and Public Security Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Obaidullah Al-Maaytah addressed the attack at a news conference Friday. Al-Faraya described it as a terrorist operation carried out by extremists, while Al-Maaytah said security forces were pursuing those responsible. Officials have not publicly identified the attackers or established whether they belonged to a known militant organization.
The motive also remained unresolved. Prime Minister Jafar Hassan attributed the violence to extremist ideology, while authorities cautioned that the investigation had not established links between the attackers and any specific organization. No group had claimed responsibility by Saturday. The lack of an identified organization or publicly announced suspects left key questions about the planning and motivation of the shooting unanswered.
King Abdullah II traveled to Karak following the attack and later chaired a National Security Council meeting. He called the security and safety of Jordanians a “red line” and ordered security agencies to respond forcefully to those responsible. Security was increased at shopping centers, foreign diplomatic facilities and other locations across Jordan as authorities continued the search.
The shooting struck a community with a longstanding Christian presence in Muslim-majority Jordan. Karak is home to a significant Christian population, and attacks of this scale are uncommon in the kingdom. Church leaders condemned the violence and stressed the country’s history of Muslim-Christian coexistence. The attack also drew condemnation from Jordanian officials and governments and religious leaders elsewhere in the region.
Medical officials continued treating survivors Saturday. Health Minister Ibrahim Badour said earlier in the day that 27 patients remained hospitalized at five medical facilities, including two people who were in critical condition at Prince Ali bin Al-Hussein Military Hospital in Karak. Most of the patients included in that update were listed in stable condition. Later Saturday, the Public Security Directorate announced that the death of another injured person had raised the overall toll to nine.
The Amman prosecutor general imposed a publication ban Friday covering details of the investigation, according to Jordan’s official Petra news agency. The order restricts publication of information concerning the case and investigative proceedings, with official government media exempted. The measure limits the amount of investigative information Jordanian authorities and local media can publicly disclose while security agencies pursue the attackers.
Authorities continued searching for the gunmen Saturday as investigators worked to determine their identities, motive and any possible organizational ties. The official death toll stood at nine, while survivors remained under medical care and security measures stayed heightened across parts of the country.
Author note: Last updated October 24, 2026.