Tragedy Strikes: Funeral Attack Rocks Southern Jordan
A devastating attack on mourners at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan has resulted in the deaths of eight individuals, according to the country’s health minister. The incident occurred at the Church of Saint George in the village of Hammoud, located in Karak governorate, during a funeral service on Friday.
Gunmen launched their assault as attendees gathered for the service, causing dozens of injuries. Jordanian state television captured footage of the armed assailants as they approached the church and opened fire.
Initially, police reported seven fatalities, but the death toll later rose to eight as one of the wounded succumbed to injuries. A mourner named Dorgham Halasa recounted to the Associated Press that the attack began approximately fifteen minutes into the service, leading to chaos as people attempted to escape.
Jordan’s interior minister labeled the incident a terrorist attack perpetrated by extremists. While no group has claimed responsibility, authorities are actively seeking those accountable for the violence.
In response to the attack, the US embassy in Amman announced increased security measures at shopping centers, foreign missions, and other locations.
King Abdullah II visited survivors at a military hospital in Karak, emphasizing that the attack would face the “harshest retaliation.” Queen Rania described it as a “heinous crime that has devastated us all,” as reported by Arab News. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan declared a three-day period of national mourning.
The Jerusalem Patriarchate, which oversees the Greek Orthodox church in Jordan, released a statement from Patriarch Theophilos III, the Holy Synod, and Metropolitan Christophoros of Jordan. The church leaders condemned the act as “vile, cowardly, and bloody,” while affirming their commitment to remain steadfast.
They stated, “Despite the immense pain felt throughout all of Jordan, and by all honorable people across the world, this abhorrent, bloody act will not undermine our national unity or our steadfastness.”
Furthermore, they expressed, “If the intent behind this message is to uproot us from our Holy Land and displace us, it will only serve to strengthen our attachment to it and deepen our roots within it.” They emphasized their role as integral to the land’s history and future, regardless of challenges faced.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the attack through his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric, who stated, “It goes without saying that an attack not only on a place of worship but during a funeral procession is especially heinous,” as reported by Al Jazeera.
Karak, a region with a longstanding Christian community in predominantly Muslim Jordan, continues to grapple with the aftermath of this tragic event.
This article was originally written by www.christiantoday.com
