Nine Killed in Attack on Jordanian Church During Funeral; Authorities Cite Extremist Ideology

A group of gunmen stormed a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, during a funeral service on Friday, killing nine people and wounding more than two dozen others, according to government officials.

The attack occurred in the town of Karak, approximately 55 miles south of the capital, Amman. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour confirmed Saturday that one critically injured patient remains in unstable condition at Prince Ali Military Hospital.

Government spokesperson Mohammad Momani stated that the assailants adhered to an “extremist takfiri ideology”—a doctrine that labels those who do not follow a strict interpretation of Islam as apostates, thereby justifying violence against them. Groups such as ISIS have previously invoked takfiri beliefs to target Muslims, Christians, and Jews.

Journalists and other people stand outside a Greek Orthodox church cordoned off with crime scene tape hours after gunmen opened fire during a funeral in Hamoud village, in Jordan’s Karak governorate on Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo)

Karak hosts a significant Christian minority, and Momani emphasized that Christians remain “part of Jordan’s national fabric.” Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the gunmen were linked to a specific terrorist organization, and no arrests have been announced.

Footage broadcast on Jordanian state television showed two gunmen armed with pistols approaching the church and opening fire, according to The Associated Press. A third individual carrying what appeared to be a semiautomatic rifle joined them moments later before all three rushed the building.

People and security forces gather outside a Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hammoud in Jordan’s Karak governorate following a shooting on Oct. 23, 2026. Gunmen killed at least seven people, authorities said. (AFP via Getty Images)

Witness photos and videos from inside the church revealed shattered glass and pools of blood. After police secured the scene, two bodies covered with blankets were visible outside the entrance.

Dorgham Halasa told the AP that heavy gunfire erupted roughly 15 minutes into the funeral service, prompting a panicked stampede. While he did not see the attackers himself, others reported at least four gunmen. Jordanian officials had not verified the exact number of assailants as of Saturday.

The interior of a Greek Orthodox church is seen hours after gunmen opened fire on Oct. 23, 2026. (AP Photo)

On Friday, King Abdullah II vowed that Jordan would “confront the terrorist act that targeted Karak with the harshest penalties.”

“Whoever imagines that the bullets of treachery can divide the ranks of Jordanians will fail in his endeavor before our steadfastness and unity,” the king added. “Our deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs, and our wishes for recovery to the wounded.”

The government has declared three days of national mourning, the state-run Petra News Agency reported.

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