Survivor of deadly attack on Jordan church describes people crawling for their lives
JERUSALEM (AP) — A survivor of a deadly attack on a church in Jordan described people crawling for their lives and watching the gunmen return to fire more bullets into the dying — as well as at the church facade. The death toll rose to nine on Saturday, a day after the attack, with nearly 40 others wounded.
On Friday, a deadly attack occurred at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, resulting in nine deaths and nearly 40 injuries. The assailants, who were masked and armed with automatic weapons, fired indiscriminately at the mourners who had gathered for a funeral. Witness Saed al-Halaseh described how the gunmen returned to shoot more bullets into the dying and even targeted the church facade.
Despite the chaos, some people managed to escape by crawling behind nearby cars. King Abdullah II condemned the attack as a "terrorist" act and ordered authorities to respond with "an iron fist." The attack's motive remains unclear, and no armed group has claimed responsibility, though the Jordanian government considers it a terrorist act.
Jordan is known for its religious coexistence, but the sense of security has been shattered, according to al-Halaseh.
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- Jordan tightens security after deadly church attack kills eight sabcnews.com
- Death toll from Jordan church attack rises to nine middleeasteye.net
- Jordan tightens security after deadly church attack kills eight al-monitor.com
- Death toll from Karak church attack in Jordan rises to nine english.ajel.sa
- Jordan’s King Abdullah orders firm response after deadly church attack aljazeera.com
- Survivor of deadly attack on Jordan church describes people crawling for their lives winnipegfreepress.com
