At least six people are dead following a shooting near a mosque in Oman’s Wadi Al-Kabir region, according to the Royal Oman Police.
At least one police officer was among those killed in Monday evening’s attack and more than two dozen people of various nationalities were injured, including four Omani first responders, the police said.
The attack took place at the Shi’ite mosque during Ashura, the tenth day of the Islamic month of Muharram, which holds particular significance for Shi’ite Muslims
Three perpetrators were identified and were killed during the exchange, according to the police.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday that at least four Pakistanis were among the dead, citing Omani authorities. Another 30 Pakistanis were injured and are currently receiving treatment at the hospital, the ministry added.
The ministry condemned the incident, calling it a “dastardly terrorist attack.”
“We are heartened that the government of Oman has neutralized the attackers,” the ministry sai
ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that three of its “suicide attackers” fired on worshippers at the mosque on Monday evening and exchanged gunfire with Omani security forces until morning.
The group also published what it said was a video of the attack on its Telegram site.
Omani police said in a statement on Tuesday that three gunmen behind the attack were killed and police officers have “concluded the procedures for dealing with the shooting”, it said.
