Thousands mourn victims of deadly Jordan church attack

Thousands of mourners gather for the funerals of eight victims of a deadly church attack in southern Jordan.

The full report

Thousands of mourners have gathered for the funerals of eight of the victims of a deadly attack on a church in southern Jordan, with Prime Minister Jafar Hassan also in attendance, according to Al Jazeera English. The burials on Sunday were beside St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud, southwest of the capital, Amman, two days after attackers opened fire during another funeral there.

Nine people were killed and dozens wounded in a rare attack on Jordan’s Christian minority, prompting three days of national mourning, Al Jazeera English reports. The ninth victim, Mohammed al-Qasous, is due to be buried on Monday, his family told the AFP news agency.

Coffins wrapped in Jordanian flags were carried through crowds gathered around the church in Karak province, as priests led prayers and security personnel stood guard, according to Petra, Jordan’s state news agency. Thousands of citizens also participated in the funeral procession, Petra said.

Father Yohanna Hamati told AFP that about 170 to 200 people were at the church for Friday’s funeral when firing began outside. The mourners initially struggled to understand what was happening, he said, before people began rushing into the church to escape.