Gunmen kill at least 6 in attack on Jordan church, authorities say

Gunmen carried out a deadly attack on a church in southern Jordan on Friday, authorities said. The public security directorate initially said at least seven people were killed but later lowered the death toll to six.

Two assailants stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate before opening fire, the directorate said in a statement. Karak, home to a significant Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom, is 110 miles south of the capital, Amman.

The gunmen got out of a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession, the directorate added, saying a manhunt was underway for the perpetrators.

Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces were investigating the attack.

An eyewitness told the kingdom’s state broadcaster, Al-Mamlaka, that a vehicle arrived carrying the gunmen, who fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing the scene.

Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time, the witness said, adding most of the victims were aged between 50 and 70.

In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Karak, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10 people, including seven officers, and wounding dozens. Jordanian security forces killed the gunmen after a long standoff.