His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed the profound sorrow of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as his own personal grief, over the victims of the attack by armed assailants on the Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George in Hmoud, in Jordan’s Karak Governorate, during a telephone conversation with His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem on Friday evening.
The Ecumenical Patriarch, who is currently visiting Rome, unequivocally condemned the attack against the faithful who were present at the Greek Orthodox church. He emphasised that every act of terrorism is, in reality, an assault on the peaceful coexistence of peoples, religions and cultures, which is of vital importance, particularly in the long-suffering Middle East.
His All-Holiness prayed that the All-Good God would grant repose to the souls of the innocent victims of the attack and asked the Patriarch of Jerusalem to convey his heartfelt condolences and support to their families. He also wished those injured a swift recovery.
At Least Seven Killed in Armed Attack on Greek Orthodox Church in Jordan
At least seven people were killed and 34 injured on Friday following an attack by armed assailants at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan, an attack which the Minister of the Interior stated had been perpetrated by a “group of extremists”.
“At least seven people were killed in a shooting at the Greek Orthodox church in the village of Hamoud, in Karak Governorate, while approximately ten others were injured, some seriously,” the Public Security Directorate said in a statement. Twenty-seven of those injured are receiving hospital treatment.
“Two armed men emerged from a vehicle and opened fire during a funeral procession as it was leaving the church in Hamoud,” the statement added, noting that a search operation was underway to locate the perpetrators.
Government spokesperson Mohammad Al-Momani announced the launch of an investigation.
An eyewitness told the Al-Mamlaka television network that the assailants fired their weapons for five minutes before fleeing.
According to the witness, between 150 and 200 people were present at the time of the shooting, both inside and outside the church.
He confirmed that the attack resulted in numerous casualties, primarily among people aged between 50 and 70.
Karak Governorate, which has a population of approximately 375,000, is home to a large Christian community.