Gunmen kill at least nine at Jordan church funeral; king vows 'iron fist'

· Security · Jordan

Gunmen opened fire at a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Jordan, killing at least nine people and wounding about 40, in a rare attack on the country's Christian minority. State TV footage showed three attackers approaching the church and firing. Authorities described it as a terrorist act by extremists, and King Abdullah II ordered an "iron fist" response. A survivor said an assailant pointed a handgun at him. The attack shocked Jordan's deep-rooted Christian community.

Why it matters:The attack on a religious minority in a region already gripped by conflict raises fears of sectarian violence spreading in a generally stable US ally.

Key points

  • At least nine killed and about 40 wounded.
  • Three attackers were seen approaching the church on state TV.
  • King Abdullah II ordered an 'iron fist' response.

Sources (original reporting)

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