16 Jul. 24: A shooting at a mosque in Oman killed at least four people and wounded 30 others in a rare act of violence in the Gulf nation.
According to Al Jazeera, the attack early on Tuesday took place in Wadi al-Kabir, a district east of the capital city Muscat, during a major religious event for Shia Muslims. Video from the scene shows people fleeing near the Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunfire rings out followed by a voice saying, “Oh God!”
Four Pakistanis were killed with at least 30 others wounded, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said, adding Omani authorities “neutralised” the gunmen. “Pakistan strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack. We are heartened that the government of Oman has neutralised the attackers,” it said in a statement.
Omani police said they’re taking “all necessary security measures and procedures … to handle the situation”. They gave an initial casualty toll of four killed and “several” injured.
“The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said on social media platform X.
No motive or potential suspects were identified in the attack. A state of emergency was declared in the area.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Oman, Imran Ali, visited hospitals and met with the wounded, an embassy statement said, adding, “all Pakistanis residing in Oman are requested to cooperate with the authorities”.
The US Embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting. “US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news, and heed directions of local authorities,” the embassy wrote on X.
Such an attack is rare in Oman, a frequent regional mediator with a low crime rate. It comes during the Muslim day of Ashura when Shia Muslims commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Many Shia mark Ashura by performing a pilgrimage to Imam Hussein’s shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala. Sunni Muslims commemorate the day through fasting.
