King Abdullah II of Jordan has instructed the country's security forces to respond firmly and seriously to the recent deadly attack on a church in Karak. The incident, which occurred during a funeral ceremony on Friday, saw attackers open fire on the Greek Orthodox church for several minutes, killing eight people and injuring 40 others. This rare attack on Jordan's Christian minority has raised significant concerns in the country.
Increased Security Measures in the Country
Following this attack, security measures have been significantly heightened in various locations across the country, including shopping centers and foreign embassies. The United States Embassy in Amman has also confirmed this increase in security. King Abdullah II condemned this "horrific terrorist act" during a National Security Council meeting, emphasizing that there is no room for leniency regarding the lives of Jordanian citizens.
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Investigations and Officials' Reactions
Jordanian officials have stated that it is still unclear whether the attackers are linked to any known groups inside or outside of Jordan. In this context, Tarek Ammarin, a relative of the victims, stated at the hospital where the injured are being treated: "This is a massacre, literally a massacre." Currently, police are patrolling around St. George's Church, which is located 120 kilometers from Amman.
Jordan's Prime Minister, Jaafar Hassan, stated following the incident that this event is the result of a blind terrorist ideology and extremism, and they will not allow society to move in this direction. He also expressed hope that "God willing, this country will always remain safe."
The Christian minority in Jordan constitutes part of the country's population, and Jordan, as one of the countries with historical religious sites, hosts Christian pilgrims from around the world. In recent years, Jordan has been a key partner of the United States in the fight against extremist groups, and officials in the country have recently reported failures in several Islamic terrorist plots.
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