Oman 16 July 2024 : Six individuals, including four Pakistanis, were killed and nearly 30 wounded in a shooting near a Shiite mosque in Muscat, Oman’s capital, officials reported on Tuesday. This rare attack occurred in the otherwise stable Gulf sultanate during the Shiite observance of Ashura, a day commemorating the seventh-century death of Imam Hussein.
The Royal Oman Police confirmed the incident in Al-Wadi Al-Kabir, stating that the three gunmen responsible were killed and the situation has been contained. Among the deceased is a police officer, and 28 individuals of various nationalities, including rescuers and paramedics, were injured.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry confirmed that four Pakistanis lost their lives, and an additional 30 are receiving treatment in hospitals. Footage verified by AFP shows people fleeing the scene as gunshots are heard, with voices invoking “oh God” and “oh Hussein.”
Pakistan’s ambassador to Oman, Imran Ali, mentioned that the mosque primarily serves South Asian expatriates, with over 400,000 Pakistanis residing in Oman. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences and offered support in the investigation.
The attack reportedly began with gunfire from a nearby building as hundreds gathered for prayers. Worshippers were briefly held hostage before being freed by Omani forces. The ambassador noted the lack of information on the attackers or their motives, describing the situation as “difficult.”
Following the attack, the US embassy in Muscat issued a security alert and canceled visa appointments, advising US citizens to stay vigilant. Omani police have implemented necessary security measures and are investigating the incident, keeping the area cordoned off and inaccessible to journalists.
Oman, with a population exceeding four million, largely comprises expatriate workers, mainly from South Asia. The nation has a small Shiite minority, with most Omanis adhering to Sunni or Ibadi Islam. While the region has seen attacks on Shiite mosques in recent years, this marks the first such incident in Oman.
In previous attacks, a 2015 suicide bombing in Kuwait claimed by ISIS killed 27 worshippers, and similar attacks in Saudi Arabia killed 25. In 2005, a former teacher in Muscat opened fire in a government building, killing two and injuring several before taking his own life.