# Gunmen Attack Funeral in Jordan, Killing Seven and Injuring Dozens

> Multiple gunmen opened fire at a Greek Orthodox church funeral in Hammoud, Karak, Jordan, on October 23, 2026, leading to seven deaths and 34 injuries, prompting a manhunt and gag order.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-23T16:54:26.790281Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/gunmen-attack-funeral-in-jordan-killing-seven-and-injuring-dozens-81ef9a9c

On October 23, 2026, multiple gunmen opened fire during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Hammoud, Karak, Jordan, killing seven people and injuring 34 others [3][5][8][12]. The attack prompted Jordanian authorities to launch a manhunt and impose a gag order on media reporting of the investigation [1][3][5].

This incident marks a rare and shocking assault on the Christian community within the majority Sunni Muslim kingdom, drawing strong condemnation from Jordanian leadership and international religious bodies alike [5][12]. The attack disrupted a community gathering and has led to widespread grief and concern among residents and observers [4][12].

## What the records show

The assault took place at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in the village of Hammoud, located in Jordan's Karak governorate [5][12]. Eyewitness accounts and video footage aired by state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka showed at least two gunmen with pistols and a third carrying a long gun emerging from a vehicle [5][8]. Some reports indicated assailants were masked [6]. They opened fire on the church compound and attendees during a funeral procession, firing continuously for approximately five minutes before fleeing [5][6]. Between 150 and 200 people were present in and around the church at the time, and most of the victims were reportedly between 50 and 70 years old [5].

Following the attack, Amman Prosecutor General Hassan Al-Abdallat issued a gag order on the investigation, citing Article 39 of the Publications and Publishing Law and Article 225 of the Penal Code [1]. The Public Security Directorate confirmed the shooting and stated that a manhunt was underway for the perpetrators [5]. Karak is home to a long-standing Christian community [4].

## The timeline

The attack occurred on Friday, October 23, 2026, during a funeral service [5][9]. Immediately after the incident, security forces began an investigation and manhunt [3][5]. Later the same day, Jordanian King Abdullah II issued a public condemnation of the events, describing them as a terrorist act [5][8]. Concurrently, the Amman Prosecutor General implemented a media gag order regarding the investigation [1].

## What changed and for whom

The attack caused shock and deep sorrow within Karak's Christian community [4][11][12]. Aid to the Church in Need, a religious charity, expressed its condolences and stated it was awaiting further information from the local church [11]. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned the "vile, cowardly, and bloody act" and affirmed confidence in Jordan's security services to bring the perpetrators to justice [12]. This event has heightened security concerns and initiated a large-scale security operation to locate those responsible [3][5].

## What the subject has said publicly

King Abdullah II condemned the attack as a "terrorist act" and vowed the "harshest retaliation" against those responsible [5][8]. He stated, "Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation" [5]. Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya publicly stated that "a group of extremists carried out the shooting" [5]. Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani confirmed that security forces were investigating the incident [5][7]. The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem also released a statement, expressing confidence that the "abhorrent, bloody act will not undermine our national unity" and would strengthen bonds between Christians and Muslims [12].

## What we could not confirm

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack [6][9]. The motives behind the shooting remain unclear, and it has not been confirmed whether the Christian community was specifically targeted [9].

## Evidence cited
1. 23/10/2026 | 16:18:48 (petra.gov.jo) — https://petra.gov.jo/
2. JERUSALEM -- Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a church in Jordan on Friday, killing six people and wounding 28 others, authorities said. The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, about 180 kilometres (110 miles) south of the capital, Amman. (cp24.com) — https://cp24.com/
3. Seven shot dead by gunmen at church funeral in Jordan, officials say (www.bbc.co.uk) — https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ck87zlpzny15o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
4. Gunmen Open Fire at Church in Jordan, Killing at Least Seven (www.nytimes.com) — https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/world/middleeast/jordan-church-shooting.html
5. At least 7 killed in attack on Jordan church during funeral, authorities say - CBS News (cbsnews.com) — https://cbsnews.com/
6. At least seven killed after gunmen open fire at church in Jordan (aljazeera.com) — https://aljazeera.com/
7. Gunmen open fire at a church during a funeral in Jordan, killing 6 and wounding 28 others - The Washington Post (washingtonpost.com) — https://washingtonpost.com/
8. Gunmen open fire at a church during a funeral in Jordan, killing 7 and wounding 34 others (ktvn.com) — https://ktvn.com/
9. Jordan: Shooting at Greek Orthodox church in Karak (vaticannews.va) — https://vaticannews.va/
10. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. (click2houston.com) — https://click2houston.com/
11. ACN offers prayers for victims of church attack in Jordan (churchinneed.org) — https://churchinneed.org/
12. JERUSALEM, October 23, 2026 (WAFA) – The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem condemned on Friday the terrorist attack targeting the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in the Hamoud area of Jordan's Karak Governorate, which resulted in the killing of seven people and the injury of 34 others. “The Patriarchate condemns this vile, cowardly, and bloody act; which directly struck our community and claimed the lives of martyrs at the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Hammoud, Al-Karak,” t (wafa.ps) — https://wafa.ps/