Tragic Shooting at Imam Ali Mosque in Muscat 4 Pakistanis Killed, 30 Injured

Tragic Shooting at Imam Ali Mosque: At least four Pakistani nationals were killed and 30 others injured in a shooting attack at a mosque in Oman, according to Omani and Pakistani officials on Tuesday.

The attack occurred at the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque, a Shi’ite mosque in the Sunni-majority country, also known as the Imam Ali mosque, located in the Wadi al-Kabir district of Muscat, the Omani capital.

Pakistan’s foreign ministry condemned the incident as a ‘terrorist’ attack, stating that the 30 injured individuals are currently receiving treatment in hospital.

“We are heartened that the government of Oman has neutralized the attackers,” Pakistan’s foreign ministry said in a statement.

The attack occurred during Ashura, a significant period of mourning for Shi’ite Muslims commemorating the 7th-century death of Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.

Pakistani Ambassador Imran Ali visited some of the wounded in hospital, according to a post by the embassy on social media platform X.

“I have visited three or four hospitals. By the grace of God, all those injured are safe,” Ali said.

We are in touch with Omani authorities and hospitals. Our officers are on standby for emergency blood donations at the embassy,” he added.

The ambassador also urged Pakistani nationals to cooperate with Omani authorities and avoid the area around the Imam Ali mosque.

“The Royal Oman Police have responded to a shooting incident in the vicinity of a mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area of the capital,” police said in a statement.

The police stated that “all necessary security measures and procedures have been taken to handle the situation” following the attack.

“The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” the police added.

The American embassy in Muscat said it is following reports of the shooting incident.

“US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news, and heed the directions of local authorities,” the embassy advised in a statement.