▲ The Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, where armed assailants opened fire
At least seven people were killed and 34 others were injured in a shooting by armed assailants at a church in southern Jordan on the 23rd (local time), the Jordanian government announced.
According to AP, AFP, and Reuters, three armed men stepped out of a car and opened fire with semi-automatic rifles and pistols for about five minutes targeting people during a funeral service at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, located about 180 kilometers south of the capital Amman.
At the time, there were around 150 to 200 people inside and outside the church, and most of the casualties were reported to be in their 50s to 70s.
Authorities are currently tracking down the fleeing suspects.
No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Jordanian Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya stated that the attack was carried out by "extremists," while adding that it is too early to say whether they were linked to groups inside or outside Jordan.
Hours after the incident, King Abdullah II of Jordan visited Karak to comfort the bereaved families, declaring that "the terrorist attack targeting Karak will be met with the harshest punishment."
Neighboring Lebanon's President Joseph Aoun and the Syrian Foreign Ministry issued statements expressing condolences to the bereaved families and condemning the crime, while Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein also called Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi to express solidarity.
Karak is home to a minority Christian community in Jordan, where the population is predominantly Muslim.
Previously, in December 2016, armed assailants opened fire at a 12th-century Crusader castle popular with tourists in the same area, leaving 10 people dead, including a Canadian tourist.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.