Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, Jordan, on Friday, October 23, 2026. Official reports confirmed seven people were killed and 34 others were wounded in the assault, which took place in the Karak governorate approximately 120 to 180 kilometers south of the capital, Amman. Authorities stated that no group has claimed responsibility for the shooting, though a manhunt for the perpetrators is currently underway.
Witnesses reported that between 150 and 200 people were attending the funeral when the attack began. According to attendees, the gunmen arrived in a vehicle, entered the church grounds, and opened fire for approximately 10 to 15 minutes. One witness described hearing an explosion followed by the sound of gunfire. Security footage verified by the BBC appears to show three armed men approaching the church grounds.
Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya and Public Security Director Obaidullah Al-Maaytah stated during a press conference that the attack was carried out by a "group of extremists." While officials noted that certain names are known to security services, they said it was too early to discuss specific internal or external affiliations. King Abdullah II visited Karak following the incident, stating that the authorities would confront the act with "the harshest penalties."
The scale of the incident involves at least three gunmen and dozens of casualties in a country where such violence is reported as rare. For the local community in Karak, the event resulted in the immediate closure of roads around medical facilities and a heavy deployment of security forces. The attack also draws international attention to Jordan's role as a custodian of religious sites, with condemnation issued by the United Nations and the United Arab Emirates.
Looking ahead, the Jordanian Public Security Directorate continues its search for the suspects who fled the scene. Security measures remain tightened in the Karak governorate and around the hospital treating the wounded. The government has not yet released the names of the suspects or a specific timeline for legal proceedings, but the King has pledged that the perpetrators will face severe punishment once apprehended.