Jordan has declared three days of national mourning from Friday following a terrorist attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Hamoud village in the southern governorate of Karak that killed seven people.
Under a directive issued by Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, national mourning began on Friday, with flags ordered to be flown at half-mast at all ministries, government departments and public institutions across the country, reports Anadolu.
The decision reflects “the grief of all Jordanians and their solidarity in this painful tragedy”, the government said, while extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
Government spokesman and Communications Minister Mohammad Momani attributed the attack to “extremist takfiri ideology”, a doctrine that brands others as unbelievers.
He said investigators were still examining whether the perpetrators had links to any organisation, adding that the findings would be announced once the investigation was complete.
Emphasising national unity, Momani said Christians were “an integral and inseparable part of Jordan’s national fabric”, with deep roots in the country’s history and identity.
He added that the authorities were continuing to pursue the attackers and anyone connected to the crime.
Meanwhile, King Abdullah II visited the injured at Karak Government Hospital on Friday evening after pledging the “harshest” punishment in response to the attack.
