Jordan declares three days of mourning after church attack kills seven

Jordan has declared three days of national mourning after an attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud village in the southern governorate of Karak killed seven people, Anadolu Agency reported.

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan ordered the mourning period to begin on Oct. 23, 2026, and directed ministries, government departments and public institutions to fly flags at half-staff.

The government said the decision reflected “the grief of all Jordanians and their solidarity in this painful tragedy”. It offered condolences to the victims’ families and wished those injured a speedy recovery.

Government spokesman and Communications Minister Mohammad Momani attributed the attack to “extremist takfiri ideology”, which brands others as unbelievers.

Momani said investigators were still examining whether the perpetrators had organizational links. The findings will be announced once the investigation is complete, he said.

Christians are “an integral and inseparable part of Jordan’s national fabric”, with deep roots in the country’s history and identity, Momani said.

Authorities are continuing to pursue the attackers and anyone connected to the crime, he added.

King Abdullah II visited the injured at Karak Government Hospital on Friday evening, after pledging the “harshest” punishment in response to the attack.