ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – At least seven people were killed and 34 wounded after gunmen opened fire during a funeral procession at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday, authorities said.

The assailants stormed the church compound in the village of Hammoud in Karak province and opened fire, the public security directorate said, later reporting seven deaths and 34 injuries in the attack.

Jordanian Prime Minister Jaafar Hassan chaired a security council meeting in Karak province “to follow up on the work of all relevant agencies in dealing with the heinous terrorist crime,” government spokesperson Mohammad al-Momani said on X.

King Abdullah II vowed the "harshest retaliation" against the perpetrators, saying "the terrorist attack against Karak will be met with the harshest retaliation."

The gunmen emerged from a vehicle and opened fire during the funeral procession, authorities said, adding that a manhunt was underway for the perpetrators. Footage aired by state broadcaster Al-Mamlaka showed three gunmen dressed in casual clothes opening fire on the church from a street entrance before charging forward.

An eyewitness told the broadcaster that between 150 and 200 people were in and around the church when the attack took place. The gunmen fired continuously for five minutes before fleeing, the eyewitness said.

Karak is home to a minority Christian population. In 2016, gunmen carried out a series of attacks in the province, including an ambush on police near a Crusader castle popular with tourists. The attacks killed 10 people, including seven police officers, and wounded dozens. Jordanian security forces killed the gunmen after a prolonged standoff.

Updated death toll at 7:10 pm