King Abdullah orders security sweep after eight killed in Karak church shooting

Jordan’s security apparatus is currently in a state of heightened alert following a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in the Karak governorate. The attack, which occurred on Friday, resulted in eight fatalities and 40 injuries.

Royal court officials stated that King Abdullah has instructed security forces to pursue the perpetrators with firm action. The monarch traveled to the scene within hours of the incident. He described the response to the attackers as an operation to be carried out with an iron fist.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan characterized the event as a manifestation of terrorist ideology and blind extremism. He stated on the social platform X that the nation would not allow society to follow that path. Authorities have declared three days of national mourning in response to the loss of life.

The shooting took place during a funeral service in broad daylight, roughly 120 kilometers southwest of Amman. Gunmen fired for several minutes before retreating. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the violence. Officials noted that it is too early to determine if the attackers have ties to known groups inside or outside Jordan.

Security measures have been expanded across the country in the aftermath. The US embassy in Amman reported increased patrols at shopping malls, foreign embassies, and other key sites. Police were seen patrolling the exterior of the church on Saturday. Nasser al-Burqan, a lawyer who survived the attack, told Reuters that one gunman stood about two meters away and fired a handgun at him.

Al-Burqan’s son, who was also present at the mass, was shot in the leg and is receiving hospital treatment. Another survivor, Tarek Ammarin, described the event as a massacre in every sense of the word. Bahjat al-Rushda, the mayor of Shihan village in Karak, called the attack wicked and expressed hope that the country would remain safe.

Christian sites in Jordan attract pilgrims from around the world, and Karak is home to a minority Christian population. While such attacks are rare in the US-allied kingdom, authorities say they have repeatedly foiled plots by violent groups in recent years.