Singapore leaders send condolences to Jordan after deadly church attack

Singapore's President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong conveyed their deepest condolences to Jordan's leaders on October 26, following a deadly attack on St George's Greek Orthodox Church in Karak, southern Jordan. The attack, which took place on October 23, resulted in the deaths of nine people and injuries to several others.

In a letter to Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein, President Tharman expressed his shock and sorrow over the horrific incident. He offered his heartfelt condolences to the Jordanian king and the families of the victims on behalf of the people of Singapore. He emphasized that Singapore firmly condemns such senseless acts of violence, particularly the targeted killing of civilians at a place of worship, which Singapore deems reprehensible.

Singapore's strong solidarity with Jordan in the fight against terrorism was reiterated by President Tharman. He affirmed Singapore's commitment to standing in unity with Jordan in the face of such tragedies. Three individuals have been arrested by Jordanian authorities in connection with the attack, according to a report from Jordan's state television on October 26.

For his part, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also conveyed his condemnation of the terrorist attack in a letter to his Jordanian counterpart Prime Minister Jafar Hassan. He reiterated Singapore's strong condemnation of the deliberate targeting of civilians at a place of worship, emphasizing that such acts are unconscionable and unjustifiable.

Wong also extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured victims a speedy recovery. He underscored Singapore's firm support for Jordan in the fight against terrorism and religious extremism, as well as in upholding the principles of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.