Jordan's King Abdullah II vowed to impose the "harshest penalties" on those responsible for an attack on a church in Karak, southern Jordan, that left dozens of people dead and wounded.
The king visited people injured in the "terrorist attack" and checked on their condition, according to the Jordan News Agency.
The Jordanian monarch stressed the need to confront the perpetrators of the terrorist attack in Karak with the harshest penalties, expressing confidence that those who believed their treacherous bullets could divide Jordanians would see their efforts fail. He reaffirmed the strength and unity of the Jordanian people.
In a post on X, the king said: "All Jordanians, from the north of the country to the south, share the same land and stand united, and no act of treachery will divide them."
King Abdullah offered condolences to the families of those killed and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.
"Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will deal with an iron fist with anyone who attacks this country," he said.
In Hamoud village in Karak Governorate, about 150 kilometers south of the capital, Amman, two gunmen opened fire indiscriminately with automatic rifles, killing several people and wounding dozens, some critically.
The village is home to the Christian Al Halasa clan, one of the largest Christian clans in the governorate.
Surveillance footage from outside the church, widely circulated online, showed the two gunmen carrying out the attack. A third armed man also appeared in the footage but apparently did not manage to fire his weapon.
Eyewitness Account
An eyewitness described to Asharq Al-Awsat the horrifying scenes experienced by people near the church.
At approximately 2:15 p.m. local time in Amman, two armed men entered and opened fire. Bloodshed quickly engulfed the area, with bodies lying outside the church before the scene of the massacre extended into the church's nave.
One eyewitness, who had been standing at the church entrance, said he initially struggled to comprehend what was happening.
He realized the gravity of the attack only when a bullet missed him and struck his cousin, who was standing beside him, in the chest. His cousin died in his arms.
The witness described being overwhelmed by shock and confusion as his cousin died in his arms while his mother remained inside the church.
Realizing that death surrounded the building, he rushed through gunfire coming from every direction in an attempt to rescue his mother, even if it meant sacrificing his own life.
"The shooting went on for a long time, and no one managed to stop the two gunmen," he said.
The scenes described by the eyewitness were documented in dozens of videos circulated on social media.
The attack was unprecedented in Jordan, targeting members of the Christian community in Karak, a governorate known for its tradition of coexistence between Muslims and Christians.
Who Were the Attackers?
Jordanian Interior Minister Mazin Al Farrayeh subsequently declared that the country was confronting "a terrorist operation carried out by a group of extremists who committed a horrific act."
Public Security Director Maj. Gen. Obaidallah Maaytah later announced that the death toll had risen to seven, with 27 people wounded.
The church had been receiving mourners attending a funeral service for a member of the clan and was crowded with people paying their respects.
The gathering made it easier for the attackers to inflict a large number of casualties among villagers who traditionally come together for such occasions.
Sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the two attackers, who fled the scene, were residents of Karak Governorate and adherents of extremist takfiri ideology.
They were reportedly aware of the location and timing of the funeral service, indicating that the attack had been premeditated.
The sources confirmed that the identities of the two attackers had been established and that security forces were continuing to search for them and other suspects believed to be involved in a terrorist cell.
They added that entrances and exits to the governorate had been secured to prevent the suspects from escaping.
Maj. Gen. Maaytah confirmed that authorities possessed information about the perpetrators of the terrorist attack but said it was premature to disclose the suspects' names.
He also declined to set a deadline for their arrest.
"We cannot specify a timeframe for concluding the operation because it depends on the nature of the situation," he said.
This is not the first time Karak has experienced a terrorist attack.
Residents still recall the events at Karak Castle in December 2016, when security forces pursued ISIS members who subsequently barricaded themselves inside the historic fortress, where weapons had been concealed.
During that incident, hostages were held inside the castle, and the operation lasted more than 15 hours.
According to the account, 14 people, including security personnel, civilians and a foreign tourist, were killed, while many others near the castle were wounded. All four militants involved in the attack were also killed.
