The blast erupted as mourners gathered for a funeral, with the gunmen first approaching the church in the dark and firing pistols before a third, holding a semi‑automatic rifle, opened fire on the congregation. Images aired on Jordanian state television showed the assailants sprinting toward the building as bullets rang out, sparking a chaotic scramble among the crowd. According to Maj. Gen. Obeidallah Maaytah, 27 of the wounded remain in intensive care, and the authorities are treating more than 30 victims under emergency protocols.
Karak is home to a minority Christian community that has faced violence in the past. In 2016, gunmen startled a police station and a tourist‑famed Crusader castle in the city, killing 10 people, including seven officers, before security forces ended the standoff by killing the attackers. The region’s fragile sectarian balance was shaken again by this latest assault.
King Abdullah II took to X to announce that the attack would be met with the harshest penalties. He called the incident a terrorist act and offered his deepest condolences to the families of the martyrs while urging a swift and decisive response from law enforcement. The king’s statement was broadcast nationwide, reinforcing the government’s resolve to protect all citizens.
Investigators are now combing through CCTV footage and interviewing witnesses. Police have cordoned off the church and the surrounding streets, and a task force has been deployed to interview potential suspects. The next phase will involve forensic analysis of the gunfire and a coordinated search for the gunmen, with an anticipated arrest or elimination of the attackers in the coming days.