Nine people died and about 40 were hurt when gunmen opened fire at a funeral at St. George's Greek Orthodox Church in Hamoud village in Karak on Friday, The Guardian and Al-Monitor reported Saturday.

Jordan's state news agency Petra had put the death toll at eight after a critically hurt victim died. The Guardian and Al-Monitor later said the toll had risen to nine.

King Abdullah II chaired a National Security Council meeting. He ordered security forces to answer the attack with an iron fist, Al-Monitor and The Guardian reported. He called the assault a despicable terrorist act, the royal court said, per those outlets.

State TV footage showed three attackers walking up to the church and firing, The Guardian said. A priest said he and others ordered people to the ground as shots rang out, Al-Monitor reported, citing Reuters. Security rose at malls, embassies and other sites, the US embassy in Amman said, per Al-Monitor.

No group claimed the attack. Officials said it was too soon to link the gunmen to a known group, Al-Monitor reported. The hunt for the attackers was still on. Jordan has a Christian minority and rarely sees this kind of assault. The US embassy warned staff and visitors as security tightened in Amman and beyond, Al-Monitor said. Outlets under Jordan's gag rules have not named suspects or a confirmed motive, and those details are not reported here.

What we know: The Guardian and Al-Monitor put the Karak church funeral toll at nine dead and about 40 hurt, with the king ordering an iron fist response.
What we don't: Who carried out the attack, whether any arrests stick, or a confirmed motive under the gag order.