Jordan: Gunmen Kill Seven at Karak Church Funeral; Canada Updates Travel Advice

October 24, 2026 — Gunmen opened fire at a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday, October 23. At least seven people were killed and dozens were wounded. The attackers are still at large. Canada updated its Jordan travel advice the same day, and the US Embassy in Amman says security has been stepped up across the country.

What happened

Where: A church in the village of Hammoud (also spelled Hmood) in Karak governorate, about 180 km (110 miles) south of Amman.
Casualties: Interior Minister Mazen Al-Faraya said at least seven people were killed and 34 wounded. Some reports put the number of wounded at 40, and a later Reuters-sourced headline said the death toll had risen to eight. Health Minister Ibrahim al-Budour said two of the wounded are in critical condition.
Attackers: Officials blamed extremists. The government said investigations are underway “at full speed,” and a manhunt is on. No arrests had been reported in the sources we checked.
Response: Jordan declared three days of national mourning. King Abdullah II promised the harshest penalties for those responsible.

Government advice

Canada (travel.gc.ca), updated October 23, 2026, 11:28 ET: Information on the shooting was added to the Safety and Security section. Canada says security operations to find the attackers are ongoing and checkpoints are active in various places. Travellers should expect a heavier security presence and follow local authorities’ instructions. The overall level stays at Exercise a high degree of caution, with these regional advisories:
- Avoid all travel within 5 km of the borders with Iraq and Syria, and east of Ruwaished in the northeast.
- Avoid non-essential travel to Zarqa and western Mafraq governorates.
United States: As reported by Reuters through Arab News, the US Embassy in Amman said security has been increased at malls, foreign embassies and other locations across Jordan. It told US citizens to stay alert and to take care at places publicly associated with the United States. Jordan was also one of 13 regional countries whose US advisories were refreshed on October 23 (see our Middle East story). The embassy’s own alert page would not load for us, so we could not confirm its full text or Jordan’s current US level.

What it means for airline travelers

Expect checkpoints. Allow extra time on the road, including the drive between Amman’s Queen Alia Airport and southern sites such as Karak, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba. Keep your passport with you.
Be careful at gatherings. Avoid large crowds and keep a low profile at churches, malls and places linked to Western countries while the search for the attackers continues.
Know the off-limits areas. Canada’s border-zone and governorate warnings stay in effect. Check them before planning desert or northern trips.
Sign up for alerts. Enroll in STEP (US) or Registration of Canadians Abroad so you get embassy updates.
Leave room for regional disruption. With Houthi attacks affecting Gulf airspace, keep backup routings in mind when flying standby through the region.