Gunmen kill at least seven at Jordan church funeral

Two gunmen opened fire at a church funeral in Jordan on Friday, killing at least seven people and wounding 10 others, authorities and state media reported. No one had claimed responsibility for the attack.

The shooting took place at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud in Karak governorate, according to CBS News, citing Jordan’s public security directorate. The BBC, citing Jordanian state media, reported that the gunmen fired on a funeral inside the church. CBS News described the area as southern Jordan, while the BBC called it central Jordan.

Dozens of people were inside for the funeral when the shooting began, mourner Khaled Burqan told Jordan’s state-run al-Mamlaka TV, according to the BBC. Burqan said the attackers carried a rifle and a pistol and fired at mourners for several minutes.

The BBC reported that the unidentified gunmen arrived in a car, began shooting inside the church and fled. Jordan’s public security directorate said the two assailants stormed the church compound before opening fire, according to CBS News.

Security forces were deployed to the area after what government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani called a “heinous” attack, the BBC reported. Al-Momani said security services were investigating the shooting, according to CBS News. The BBC reported that interior ministry officials were expected to hold a news briefing.

The BBC said footage believed to show the aftermath appeared to show dead and wounded people on the ground amid chaotic scenes. The footage was not confirmed as showing the attack’s aftermath.

Karak is home to a Christian community in majority-Muslim Jordan. CBS News described the community as a minority population, while the BBC called it sizeable. The BBC reported that such violence is rare in Jordan, although deadly attacks have occurred there before.