AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Saturday vowed a firm response to the terrorist attack on a church in Karak Governorate, as the toll rose to nine following the death of an injured victim.

 

Chairing a National Security Council meeting attended by HRH Crown Prince Hussein, the King stressed that the lives and security of Jordanians were a red line and that those responsible would be brought to justice.

 

“The hand of justice will reach every terrorist,” the King said, directing security agencies to act firmly against extremists and anyone seeking to undermine national unity.

 

The King ordered a comprehensive review of security measures to strengthen preparedness and anticipate potential threats. He also called for a systematic plan, in coordination with religious authorities, to address the roots of extremist ideology.

 

The attack took place on Friday at a church in Hammoud village, Karak Governorate, during a condolence gathering. Authorities initially reported seven fatalities and 40 people receiving medical treatment.

 

Crown Prince Hussein condemned the attack, saying terrorism would not undermine Karak’s legacy of honour and dignity. He extended condolences to the victims’ families and wished the injured a speedy recovery, stressing the importance of national unity in safeguarding Jordan’s security and stability.

 

Prime Minister Jafar Hassan also vowed that those responsible would face justice, saying security agencies would pursue the perpetrators in line with the King’s directives.

 

Minister of Government Communication and government spokesperson Mohammad Momani said the attack was driven by extremist takfiri ideology, stressing that Jordanian Christians were an integral part of the country’s social fabric.

 

“Any attack against a Jordanian, regardless of religion or belief, is an attack on Jordanian society as a whole,” Momani said, adding that anyone found guilty of planning, carrying out, financing or facilitating the attack would face the maximum penalties prescribed by law.

 

Political analyst Amer Sabaileh said the attack, which he described as unprecedented in Jordan’s history, had both security-related and broader cultural and social implications.

 

On the security front, Jordan needed to adopt a different approach to emerging threats and attempts to bring crises into the country and destabilise society, Sabaileh said.

 

The second challenge, he said, concerned national awareness, culture and social cohesion. He called for greater efforts to strengthen national identity and counter extremism through sustained engagement with communities across the country.

 

“There must be a national cultural project,” Sabaileh said, calling for practical, long-term measures.

 

Public figures also condemned the attack, describing it as a national tragedy and reaffirming Jordan’s commitment to religious coexistence, national unity and the fight against terrorism.

 

Father Rifat Bader, director of the Catholic Center for Studies and Media, said Jordanian families stood united behind the Hashemite leadership in the face of the tragedy, stressing that the bonds between Muslim and Christian Jordanians remained strong.

 

In an interview with Al Rai, Bader described the attack as a major loss for the country, saying such violence was alien to Jordanian society, its traditions and its values of peaceful coexistence.

 

He said the attack would not weaken social cohesion or undermine national unity.

 

Former minister Kamel Mahadin, speaking to the Jordan News Agency, Petra, said Jordan would not bow to terrorism. He described the attack on residents of Hammoud as an act of treachery that targeted innocent people and violated the sanctity of a place of worship.

 

“The tragedy is one shared by all Jordanians,” Mahadin said, adding that grief extended beyond Hammoud and Karak to homes across the country.

 

He said the pain felt by the Christian community was shared by Muslims, stressing that an attack on any Jordanian was an assault on the dignity of the entire nation.

 

Mahadin also praised Karak’s resilience, saying terrorism would neither diminish the city’s standing nor instil fear among its residents. The attack, he added, would not fracture the national fabric built on mutual respect, sacrifice and coexistence.

 

He condemned attacks on places of worship and civilians, saying there could be no justification for violence in a country where human dignity and the sanctity of life were fundamental values.

 

Former communications minister Faisal Shboul described the attack in Hammoud as a deeply distressing terrorist crime that had brought grief to families across Jordan.

 

He said the national impact of the attack was reflected in King Abdullah’s visit to Karak, where the King met injured victims, heard their accounts and offered condolences to the families of those killed.

 

Shboul said Jordan would confront extremist terrorism with determination, pointing to the King’s public statement following the attack.

 

“Jordan would emerge from the tragedy stronger,” Shboul said, citing the country’s commitment to humanitarian values and the Amman Message, which promotes moderation, tolerance and mutual understanding.

 

He stressed that Jordan would not allow extremist ideology to achieve its aims, adding that public awareness, national solidarity and the vigilance of the armed forces and security agencies were essential to protecting the country’s security and stability.