6 Dead Including Pakistanis and Indian, Rare Shooting Attack Near Shia Mosque in Oman Claimed by IS

Los Angeles/July 17, 2024
NRIpress.club/Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh

In a rare and deadly attack near a Shia mosque in Muscat, Oman’s capital, six people, including a policeman, were killed, and 28 others injured, according to police reports. Security forces killed the three attackers during the incident, which took place in the al-Wadi al-Kabir area on Monday night, as stated by the authorities.

The identities of the victims and gunmen, as well as the motive, have not been disclosed. However, Pakistan confirmed that four of its citizens were killed in the "terrorist attack" on the Imam Ali Mosque. India also reported the death of one of its citizens.
The Sunni jihadist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that three of its members were involved. Supporters of IS celebrated the attack on social media.

IS has a history of targeting Shia ceremonies and worshippers in countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, but this is their first claimed attack in Oman, where Shia Muslims are a minority. Video footage showed a crowd running for cover in the mosque's courtyard amidst gunfire. Worshippers had gathered on the eve of Ashura, a significant Shia holy day.

The police extended condolences to the victims' families and announced an ongoing investigation into the incident. They also urged the public to rely on official sources for information and disregard unreliable reports.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sadness over the attack, offering condolences to the victims' families and instructing the Pakistani embassy in Muscat to assist the injured.

The Pakistani embassy in Muscat identified the four Pakistani victims as Ghulam Abbas, Hasan Abbas, Sayyed Qaisar Abbas, and Sulaiman Nawaz, and reported that 30 Pakistanis were being treated in hospitals.

Pakistani Ambassador Imran Ali visited some of the injured in three local hospitals, describing their conditions as "relatively safe." He also advised Pakistani residents in Oman to avoid the al-Wadi al-Kabir area and cooperate with local authorities.
Ambassador Ali later informed AFP news agency that the attackers initially fired from a building next to the mosque, where hundreds had gathered for a prayer service. The worshippers were held "hostage" before being freed by Omani forces.
India’s embassy reported that one Indian national had been killed and another injured, based on information from the Omani foreign ministry.

The attack occurred on the ninth night of Muharram, when Shia Muslims observe rituals on the eve of Ashura, commemorating Imam Hussein's martyrdom in the seventh century. In video footage from the mosque, worshippers can be heard shouting "O God," "O Hussein," and "I am here, O Hussein" as the attack unfolded.

Oman is known for its stability and security in the Middle East, playing a key role in mediating regional conflicts and disputes.
The Gulf sultanate has a population of about 4.6 million, with over 40% being foreign workers. Although the government does not publish statistics on religious affiliation, the US State Department estimates that 95% of the population is Muslim, with 45% Sunni, 45% Ibadi, and 5% Shia. Hindus, Buddhists, and Christians make up the remaining 5%.

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