A funeral service in southern Jordan turned into a scene of bloodshed on Friday, October 23, after unidentified gunmen opened fire inside a church in Karak governorate, killing at least seven people and injuring around 10 others.

The attack prompted a security response, with authorities launching a search for the suspected assailants, according to reports citing Jordanian state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka TV.

The shooting took place while mourners had gathered to pay their final respects to the deceased. What began as a solemn occasion was disrupted by gunfire, leaving multiple people dead and others wounded.

The identities of the victims, however, had not been fully established in the initial reports.

Jordan’s Public Security Directorate was overseeing the response, state television reported, as security forces pursued those suspected of carrying out the attack.

Authorities had not publicly disclosed the identities of the gunmen or established a motive.

Gunfire erupts inside church during funeral

The incident occurred inside a church in Karak, a governorate in southern Jordan. The precise sequence of events leading up to the shooting remained unclear, and the church had not been identified by name in the initial reports.

Reuters reported that the gunmen opened fire during the funeral service and that authorities were pursuing the suspects.

The circumstances surrounding the attack, including whether the assailants intended to target a particular person or deliberately attacked the gathering, remained unknown.

Local broadcaster Roya News separately reported that around 10 people had been injured, with some said to be in critical condition.

The casualty figures were based on initial reports and could change as more information emerged.

Authorities hunt for unidentified attackers

Jordanian authorities had yet to announce any arrests or publicly establish a motive for the shooting in the initial coverage.

The Public Security Directorate was coordinating the response as the search for the suspected gunmen continued.

It was also unclear whether the attack was aimed at a specific individual attending the funeral or whether the church and the people gathered inside had been deliberately targeted.

No group or individual had claimed responsibility in the reports available at the time.

With the investigation ongoing, key questions remained unanswered, including the identities of the victims, the circumstances that led to the shooting and the motive behind the attack.