Seven killed in church shooting during funeral in Jordan
by@Reuters
Summary
Seven people were killed and 40 wounded when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at Hamoud Church in Karak, Jordan, in a rare attack on the country's Christian minority, which has been described by authorities as a terrorist act carried out by extremists. Major General Abdallah al-Maaytah confirmed the incident, stating that it involved assailants who fired from a sidewalk and then fled towards the church entrance. Following the attack, King Abdullah visited the site and pledged the harshest retaliation against those responsible. While such violence is uncommon in Jordan, the country has previously thwarted attempted attacks by Islamist militants.
Analysis
Jordan: Jordan is a Middle Eastern kingdom known for relative stability amid regional volatility. It maintains a small Christian minority and serves as host to biblical pilgrimage sites. The country faced a rare terrorist attack on a church in Karak during a funeral, triggering official condemnation and an active security investigation. Mike Waltz: Mike Waltz serves as the US ambassador to the United Nations. He denounced the Jordan church attack on X as a depraved and brutal assault on a house of worship. His reaction illustrates international condemnation of the incident. Jafar Hassan: Jafar Hassan is the Prime Minister of Jordan. He publicly condemned the church attack on X as the product of terrorist ideology and blind extremism, pledging that society would not follow that path. His remarks form part of the government's immediate response to the shooting in Karak. Hani Al-Mbaydeen: Hani Al-Mbaydeen is a Karak resident present at the government hospital supporting wounded victims. He voiced public shock at the church shooting and urged investigation into extremist ideas. His remarks capture local community reaction to the attack. Mazin Al Farrayeh: Mazin Al Farrayeh is Jordan's Interior Minister. He attributed the fatal church shooting to extremists while stating it was too early to link them to any known domestic or foreign groups. His comments underscore the early-stage investigation into the Karak attack. Mohammad Khalayleh: Mohammad Khalayleh is Jordan's Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. He joined other officials in condemning the attack via state media. His involvement highlights official religious sector opposition to the violence targeting the Christian minority. Abdallah al-Maaytah: Abdallah al-Maaytah heads Jordan's Public Security Directorate. He briefed reporters on the casualties from the Hamoud Church shooting and confirmed the ongoing manhunt for the gunmen. His statements detail the authorities' operational response in Karak. Stability: Such attacks remain extremely rare in Jordan despite the country repeatedly foiling Islamist militant plots in recent years. Investigation: Authorities described the shooting as a terrorist act by extremists with no immediate claim of responsibility issued. Royal Response: King Abdullah visited Karak hours after the incident and pledged the harshest retaliation against the perpetrators.
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