Pakistan strongly condemns deadly terrorist attack on church funeral procession in Jordan’s Karak

Pakistan strongly condemned the deadly terrorist assault on a funeral procession at a church in Jordan’s southern Karak Governorate on Saturday, October 24, extending heartfelt condolences to the Hashemite Kingdom and reaffirming unwavering solidarity in the fight against extremism.

What did Pakistan's Foreign Office say in response to the attack?

In an official statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad, Pakistan expressed profound sorrow over the loss of innocent lives and conveyed its heartfelt sympathies to the government, people, and leadership of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, particularly the bereaved families who lost their loved ones. Pakistan also extended its sincere wishes for the swift and complete recovery of those injured in the violence.

Reaffirming Islamabad's brotherly ties with Amman, the Foreign Office underscored that Pakistan stands firmly alongside the Jordanian people in their campaign against terrorism. The statement reiterated Pakistan’s strongest condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, emphasizing that attacks targeting peaceful mourners and sacred places of worship represent an intolerable violation of human sanctity and international norms.

How did the shooting unfold at the Hammoud church in Karak?

The statement follows an armed mass casualty attack on Friday afternoon in the village of Hammoud in Karak Governorate, situated south of the capital Amman. According to Jordanian security authorities, a group of armed extremists targeted the local Greek Orthodox church during a funeral service attended by an estimated 150 to 200 mourners.

CCTV recordings and eyewitness accounts verified by regional security services indicated that gunmen armed with automatic rifles and handguns opened fire on mourners outside the vehicle entrance before advancing into the church building. Jordan’s Public Security Directorate confirmed that at least seven people were killed and up to 40 others sustained gunshot wounds, with several victims transferred in critical condition to Al Hussein Medical City.

Following the assault, Jordan declared three days of national mourning, while King Abdullah II vowed that the state would confront the perpetrators with the severest penalties. Jordanian security formations and special forces mobilized an expansive manhunt across the governorate and surrounding terrain to track down the fleeing assailants. International bodies, including the United Nations and the Arab League, joined Pakistan in condemning the bloodshed and cautioning against attempts to incite sectarian discord.

According to reporting by the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Al Jazeera, and the Jordan News Agency (Petra), security forces across Jordan have placed critical transport nodes and religious sites on heightened alert as the joint investigation proceeds.