In a tragic development, Jordan has intensified security around key public and diplomatic sites following a deadly shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak governorate that claimed eight lives and left 40 others injured.
The attack occurred on Friday as mourners gathered for a funeral, turning a moment of grief into a scene of bloodshed. Gunmen reportedly opened fire for several minutes before fleeing, leaving victims dead and wounded at the scene.
Jordanian authorities have condemned the incident as an act of extremist terrorism, although no group has claimed responsibility. Security agencies continued searching for the suspected attackers on Saturday as investigators worked to establish the motive behind the shooting and determine whether the suspects had connections to militant networks inside or outside the country.
In response to the attack, the United States Embassy in Amman announced additional security measures around shopping centres, foreign embassies and other potentially vulnerable locations.
The scale of the violence has left families and communities shaken. At a hospital treating some of the victims, Tarek Ammarin described the incident as a massacre, revealing that one of his relatives was among those wounded.
Meanwhile, police reinforced their presence around Hamoud Church, situated about 120 kilometres southwest of Amman, as authorities moved to prevent further violence and reassure the public.
Jordanian Prime Minister Jafar Hassan denounced the shooting, blaming extremist ideology and warning that the country would not allow radical beliefs to threaten its social cohesion or national stability.
In a statement posted on X, Hassan said the attack stemmed from terrorist ideology and blind extremism, insisting that such forces would not be allowed to drag society down that path.
King Abdullah visited Karak hours after the shooting, vowing that those responsible would face severe punishment and pledging a forceful response against the perpetrators.
Attacks of this magnitude are rare in Jordan, a key United States ally in the region. However, security officials have previously reported thwarting plots linked to Islamist militants, keeping concerns over extremist violence firmly on the country’s security agenda.
Christians constitute a minority of Jordan’s population, and the kingdom is home to several biblical sites that draw pilgrims from around the world, giving the attack added significance for religious communities.
The shooting also comes amid heightened regional insecurity this year, following Iranian attacks on US allies in the Middle East after American and Israeli strikes against Iran began in February.
As the manhunt continues, Jordan faces mounting pressure to identify those behind the deadly assault, protect vulnerable sites and prevent the tragedy from escalating into wider insecurity.
