Singapore leaders condemn deadly church attack in Jordan, convey condolences to victims' families

President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong conveyed Singapore’s deepest condolences to Jordan on October 26, following a fatal shooting at a church in the country’s south. Both leaders issued formal letters expressing shock at the incident, which claimed nine lives and left approximately forty others injured. The attacks occurred during a funeral service at St George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the village of Hamoud, located within Karak governorate. In his correspondence with King Abdullah II, President Tharman described the event as a horrific act of violence. He stated that Singapore strongly condemns the senseless aggression and the deliberate targeting of civilians in a place of worship. On behalf of the Singaporean people, he extended sympathy to the royal family and the bereaved relatives. Tharman affirmed that Singapore stands in solidarity with Jordan in its struggle against terrorism from any source. He expressed confidence that the Jordanian populace would maintain unity amidst the tragedy. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong addressed his Jordanian counterpart, Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, in a separate letter. Wong characterized the incident as an act of terrorism, labeling such violence as unconscionable and unjustifiable under any circumstances. He offered wishes for a swift recovery to the injured parties and reiterated Singapore’s opposition to religious extremism. The statement emphasized the shared commitment to upholding religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence. The shooting took place on Friday, October 23, in broad daylight. Gunmen opened fire for several minutes while a funeral procession was underway. Witnesses reported that mourners initially struggled to comprehend the situation before rushing inside the building to seek safety. Father Yohanna Hamati noted that between 170 and 200 individuals were present at the church when the gunfire started. By Saturday, bullet holes marred the walls and wooden pews, and windows lay shattered. Cleaners worked to remove blood from the premises as residents prepared for the burials. The assailants fled the scene, triggering a manhunt by security forces. State television reported on October 26 that three suspects had been arrested in connection with the crime. Thousands of mourners gathered on Sunday for the funerals of eight of the victims. Coffins draped in Jordanian flags were carried past the church in Karak province. Prime Minister Hassan attended the services alongside senior military and civilian officials. The ninth victim, identified as Mohammed al-Qasous, was scheduled for burial on Monday, according to his family. The attack prompted King Abdullah II to declare three days of national mourning, with flags flown at half-mast across government buildings. The monarch visited hospitalized patients on Friday and vowed a forceful response, stating the perpetrators would face harshest retaliation. Attacks on houses of worship are uncommon in the Muslim-majority kingdom, where Christians constitute roughly two to three percent of the population. Jordanian authorities have classified the incident as extremist terrorism. However, officials indicated that they had not yet determined if the shooters were linked to a specific armed group. No organization has publicly claimed responsibility for the violence. One survivor, Sahar al-Halsa, recounted hiding behind a pillar as screams filled the air. She later discovered her cousin, Assem, lying wounded. Despite her pleas, he died shortly after opening his eyes. The community remains on high alert as security forces continue their search for remaining suspects.