Jordan’s royals visit families after church attack as death toll rises to nine

Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Jordan’s Karak province on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40, according to Health Minister Ibrahim Bdour. Two of the wounded were in critical condition when he gave the figures later that day.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned what he called a terrorist attack on the service in Hamoud village. In a statement issued by his spokesman, he offered condolences to the victims’ families and called for those responsible to be brought to justice. “Places of worship must be places of peace and must be safe for all,” the statement said.

The Associated Press reported that footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed armed men approaching the church and firing. A mourner, Dorgham Halasa, told AP that intense gunfire began about 15 minutes after the funeral started. He did not see the gunmen, and AP said it could not independently establish how many attackers there were.

Jordanian security authorities had earlier reported 28 wounded, then 34, before Bdour put the number at 40. A government statement quoted by AP described the assailants as unknown and said an investigation was under way. Government spokesman Mohammad Momani attributed the shooting to extremist ideology; that account did not identify the attackers.

Jordan declared three days of national mourning, AP reported, citing the state news agency Petra.

Update

Queen Rania, Crown Prince Hussein and other members of Jordan’s royal family have visited families bereaved by the attack on a church in Karak, as the death toll rose to nine.

On Sunday, 25 October, Queen Rania visited the families at the Hammoud Charitable Society, accompanied by Princess Rajwa and Princess Salma, Petra reported. Crown Prince Hussein attended a funeral in Hmoud village and offered his condolences, according to the Royal Hashemite Court. He called the attack a “cowardly and treacherous act” and said state resources were being used to track down those responsible. [7] [8]

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate said on Saturday that another person injured in the attack had died, bringing the toll to nine, Petra reported. The attack took place during a funeral at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Hmoud, Karak. [8]