Jordan’s King Abdullah calls church shooting ‘terror attack,’ at least 7 killed: What to know

A shooting at a church in southern Jordan has left seven people dead and 40 injured in a rare and major security incident for the country.

The state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka reported that unknown gunmen carried out attack at Hamoud church in Karak province around 2:30 pm local time (7:30 am ET). The assailants exited a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral service before fleeing, according to the outlet.

Jordan's King Abdullah II released a statement on X calling the incident a "terrorist attack" and saying it will be met "with the harshest retaliation." 

"Every Jordanian life is precious, and we will strike with an iron fist against those who dare to threaten our nation," he wrote.

During a press conference later Friday, Jordan's health minister, Ibrahim Al-Bdour, said out of the 40 injured, two remain in critical condition. At the same press conference, Jordanian government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani said that the country had declared a three-day period of mourning for those killed in the attack.

Al-Mamlaka aired security camera footage of three men approaching the church with guns.

The Jordanian news outlet Roya reported that security forces deployed to the area to search for the shooters.

The attack drew wide condemnation in the region and internationally. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi offered his condolences to King Abdullah in an X post, while Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the shooting “a heinous terrorist attack.” The foreign ministries of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Syria issued statements of condemnation, among others.

Mike Waltz, US ambassador to the United Nations, called the shooting “devastating” in a post on X, adding that he was “praying for the victims, their families, and all those affected by this depraved and brutal attack on a house of worship.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also condemned the attack, saying that “attacks against civilians [and] places of worship are unacceptable.” EU spokesperson Anouar El Anouni wrote on X that the governing body condemned the attack and expressed “solidarity with the people and the Government of Jordan.”

Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan said at a press conference that the attack was “the result of terrorist takfiri ideology,” using an Islamic term referring to apostates.

A video circulated on social media appearing to show Muslims reciting a prayer outside the church, while another photo circulated purporting to show Jordanians lining up to donate blood for those hurt in the attack.

Interior Minister Mazen al-Farrayeh told reporters on Friday that the attack was a "terrorist operation carried out by a group of extremists" and that the search for the perpetrators is ongoing.

Christians make up about 2–3% of the population in Jordan, with sizable communities in the capital Amman, Karak and other parts of the country. 

Attacks on churches and Christians have been relatively rare in Jordan. In 2008, a Lebanese Christian choir was attacked in Amman, while a plot to bomb a Roman Catholic Church was foiled in 2009.

This developing story has been updated since initial publication.