Gunmen kill six at church in southern Jordan

Six people were killed and 28 wounded in an attack by unidentified assailants during a funeral in Jordan’s Karak governorate, the Public Security Directorate said on Friday, after state-owned media had earlier reported that seven people were killed, authorities said.

Two assailants stormed the compound of a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate before opening fire, the public security directorate said in a statement.

“Seven people died at least… while around 10 people were wounded, some of them critically,” the directorate said.

The gunmen got out of a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession, it added, saying that a manhunt was underway for the perpetrators.

Minister of Government Communications Mohammed Al-Momani said security forces were investigating the attack.

An eyewitness told the kingdom’s state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka that a vehicle arrived carrying the gunmen, who fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing the scene.

Between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church at the time, the witness said, adding that most of the victims were aged between 50 and 70.

Karak is home to a significant Christian community in the Muslim-majority kingdom.