Gunmen flee after opening fire on southern Jordan church service

Seven people were killed and 10 others sustained injuries, some critical, following a shooting at Hamoud Church in Jordan’s Karak Governorate on Friday, 23 October. The attack targeted a funeral procession, according to reports from the semi-official broadcaster Al Mamlaka. Witnesses told the television channel that two gunmen exited a vehicle and opened fire directly at the church while the service was in progress. The attackers fled the scene immediately after the shooting, prompting a large-scale security operation in the southern governorate. Security Response in Karak Jordanian security forces have launched a manhunt to apprehend the suspects. Mohammad Hussein Al Momani, Jordan’s Minister of Government Communication, confirmed that authorities are managing the incident on the ground. The minister stated that an official report will be released once all details are verified by investigators. Medical teams transported the 10 injured victims to nearby hospitals. Health officials have not yet released the identities of the deceased or the specific conditions of those in critical care. Regional Security Context The shooting occurs amid a period of heightened security vigilance in Jordan. This incident follows a series of recent violent events in the kingdom, including a fatal family brawl in Amman and a stampede at the Roman Theatre that resulted in one death earlier this month. The government has not yet commented on a potential motive for the church shooting or whether it…