US embassy says security ramped up in Jordan after deadly church attack

Gunmen opened fire on a funeral procession at a Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hammoud within Jordan’s Karak governorate on Friday. According to Al-Monitor, the attack involved gunmen opening fire continuously for several minutes. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate stated that the assailants got out of a vehicle to carry out the act and that a manhunt is underway for the perpetrators. The attack resulted in at least seven deaths and between 40 and dozens of injuries, according to CBC News, Al-Monitor, and Dawn.

In response to the incident, the US embassy in Amman reported that security has been increased at foreign embassies, malls, and other locations throughout Jordan. King Abdullah II stated on X that the terrorist attack would be met with the harshest retaliation and that the nation would strike against those who threaten it, while National Post reported the King said those responsible would meet "the harshest penalties."

Pakistan issued a statement through its Foreign Office condemning the "heinous terrorist attack" and expressing condolences to the Jordanian government and the families of the victims. Dawn reported that authorities described the incident as a terrorist act committed by extremists, though no immediate claim of responsibility was made.

Brief written by urgent.news from Al-Monitor, Dawn, Dawn - Pakistan, CBC News, National Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.