A deadly attack on St. George's Church in the village of Hamoud, Jordan, on Saturday, triggered deep feelings of shock and sorrow in the local community. On Sunday, workers were cleaning the last traces of blood from the scene when visitors came to express their condolences. This attack, which occurred during a funeral ceremony, left nine dead and 25 injured.
Eyewitness Testimonies and Officials' Statements
Syil Al-Khaytan, a doctor who was in the church at the time of the attack, described the incident as a tragedy and called it a "criminal and dark" attack targeting the Jordanian community. Referring to the intensity of the gunfire, he said: "We feared that we would die as martyrs in this major attack, but miraculously we survived."
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The Jordanian Minister of Interior, Mazen Al-Faraya, announced that the attackers were extremists and that this attack on St. George's Church had left bullet marks on the walls and wooden benches and shattered the windows. Security forces were deployed at the entrances and exits of the church to ensure the safety of the area.
Social Reactions and Solidarity Among Muslims and Christians
While the Christian community in Jordan makes up about three percent of the population, reactions to this attack have been widespread. At the funeral of the victims held the next day, church officials dug a mass grave that will serve as a memorial. Father Yuhanna Hamati, one of the clergy, stated that there were about 170 to 200 people present at the ceremony during the shooting, and some of the injured were Muslims.
As condolence delegations from military officials, clergy, and local figures came to the village, young people also went to local hospitals to express their sympathy and donated blood. Muroj Al-Nuwisa, a young activist, pointed to the solidarity between Muslims and Christians, saying: "Our friends and relatives, Muslims and Christians, live together, and this is a great shock."
King Abdullah II of Jordan also visited the injured in the hospital, dressed in military attire and armed, standing alongside them. He vowed with serious determination to show the victims that their country supports them.
In public reactions, Majid Jafar, a local resident, expressed sorrow and anger, saying: "We cried for them. Christians are our brothers and sisters, and there is nothing but love between us." He also called for decisive action from the government against these attacks, stating: "These individuals are not only dangerous to Christians but pose a threat to the entire community."
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