Police are taking “all necessary security measures” after this extremely rare act of violence in the sultanate.
A shooting near a mosque in Oman has killed at least four people and injured several others in a rare act of violence in the Gulf country.
The attack took place early Tuesday in Wadi al-Kabir, a district east of the capital, Muscat, during a major religious event for Shia Muslims.
Video from the scene shows people fleeing near the Imam Ali Mosque, whose minaret is visible, as gunshots ring out followed by a voice saying: “Oh my God!”
Omani police said they were taking “all necessary security measures and procedures… to manage the situation.” They gave an initial toll of four dead and “several” injured.
“Authorities continue to collect evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” police said on social media platform X.
No motive or potential suspects have been identified in the attack. A state of emergency has been declared in the region.
“Stay vigilant”
Some of the victims appear to be Pakistani nationals, as the Pakistani ambassador “visited three hospitals and met with the injured,” an embassy statement said, adding that “all Pakistanis residing in Oman are requested to cooperate with the authorities.”
The US Embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting and canceled all visa appointments on Tuesday.
“U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news, and heed the instructions of local authorities,” the embassy wrote on X.
Such attacks are rare in Oman, a country that frequently serves as a regional mediator and has a low crime rate. They come on the Muslim holiday of Ashura, when Shiite Muslims commemorate the battlefield martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, in the 7th century.
Many Shiites celebrate Ashura by making a pilgrimage to the shrine of Imam Hussein in the Iraqi city of Karbala. Sunni Muslims commemorate the day by fasting.
Security Alert for U.S. Citizens:
The U.S. Embassy is closely monitoring reports of the shooting in Wadi Kabir. U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news reports, and follow the instructions of local authorities. pic.twitter.com/7aob35orAc— U.S. Embassy Muscat (@USEmbMuscat) July 16, 2024
