Gunmen kill seven at funeral in Jordan church, 34 wounded: King Abdullah calls it a terrorist attack

At least seven people were killed when gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan. The shooting on Friday also left 34 people injured. The country's King Abdullah II has described the incident as a 'terrorist attack'.

The attack took place at a church in the Karak area. Karak is about 110 miles south of the capital, Amman. The area is home to a minority Christian population.

King Abdullah II wrote on the social media platform X that the terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation. In his words, those who think they can divide Jordanians with their bullets have no chance in the face of unity.

He also wrote that all Jordanians, from north to south, are partners in land and fate, and nothing stands between them. He offered deep condolences to the families of the dead and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. At the same time, he said every Jordanian life is precious and those who dare to threaten the nation will be struck with an iron fist.

Images broadcast on Jordanian state television showed what appeared to be two gunmen holding pistols approaching the church and firing shots, according to the Associated Press.

A third man who appeared to be holding a semiautomatic rifle then appeared and opened fire, and all three then ran toward the church.

A government statement said the attack was 'carried out by unknown assailants', but did not say whether any gunmen were captured or killed. It noted that investigations are underway at full speed.

Jordan's director of public security, Major General Obeidallah Maaytah, said at a news conference that 27 of the wounded in Friday's shooting were still being treated.

International reaction followed the attack. Iraq's Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein said in a statement that he called his Jordanian counterpart and affirmed Iraq's solidarity with Jordan in the face of terrorism.

Karak has seen a major attack before. In 2016, gunmen ambushed police in a series of attacks in Karak, including at a Crusader castle popular with tourists, killing 10 people including seven officers and wounding dozens. Jordanian security forces killed those gunmen after a long standoff.

Investigations are continuing after Friday's attack, and no detailed official information has yet been given about the attackers' identities or motive.