Four Pakistanis killed in hostage-shooting drama near Muscat mosque

Four Pakistanis were killed and multiple others wounded in a hostage-shooting drama near a Shiite mosque in the Omani capital Muscat, a rare attack in the otherwise stable Gulf sultanate.

At least 50 Pakistani expatriate workers were also injured when gunmen opened fire outside the mosque, Pakistan's ambassador to the sultanate said.

Shiites make up a small minority of Oman's overwhelmingly Muslim population. Most Omanis follow the Sunni or Ibadi branches of the faith.

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

The force gave an initial toll of four killed and "several others" wounded at the mosque in eastern Muscat.

There were Pakistanis among the wounded, the embassy in Muscat said, adding that the number had yet to be confirmed.

Pakistani Ambassador Imran Ali visited some of the wounded in the hospital, the embassy posted on social media platform X.

In a video message, he urged Pakistani residents to cooperate with Omani authorities and avoid the area around the mosque which was hit. "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 as well as hospitals. Our officers are on standby for emergency blood donations in the embassy," he added, saying a hotline has been set up to assist the wounded and their relatives.

Footage verified by AFP shows people fleeing the Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunshots ring out.

A voice can be heard saying "oh God" and repeating "oh Hussein".

Shiites this week mark Ashura, an annual day of mourning that commemorates the seventh-century death in battle of Imam Hussein.

Police said "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," police added on X.

The area was cordoned off on Tuesday, with journalists unable to access the mosque, an AFP photographer reported.

At least 50 Pakistani expatriate workers were injured when gunmen opened fire outside a mosquein Oman, Pakistan's ambassador to the sultanate has said.

Imran Ali told The National that at least 20 were being treated for bullet wounds in three hospitals in Muscat. Others with minor injuries were discharged, Mr Ali said.

The ambassador said a number of worshippers, including women and children, were taken hostage by gunmen and later released by armed police.

“It was a horror story for them. They went to pray for Muharram and are shocked this happened,” Mr Ali said. “The attack was premeditated on innocent mosque-goers and that is all we know for now.

“The injuries I saw were serious but not life-threatening. The men mainly had bullet wounds in the legs. We thank God that the tragedy is much less than what it could have been. We don’t know the motive yet or the identity of the people who shot the worshippers.”

It is unclear who the gunmen were, the ambassador said.

Local residents shared footage showing that the police operation continued into Tuesday morning.

Mr Ali said embassy staff received calls from families anxious about loved ones being held inside the mosque during a standoff that he said lasted several hours.

“It was a hostage situation, there were women and children among the hostages,” Mr Ali said. “All of them were released and we thank law enforcement for securing the area and evacuating the hostages.”

Mr Ali thanked the Omani government for taking care of the injured and asked the community to support one other. “The worst is over and the community must do whatever they can to help each other,” Mr Ali said.

“I also ask the community not to panic and to pull together.”

The US embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting and cancelled all visa appointments Tuesday.

"US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities," the embassy posted on X.

At least 40 percent of Oman's five million population are foreign workers, including more than 250,000 Pakistanis, official figures from 2023 show.

Oman has a population of over four million, more than 40 percent of whom are expatriate workers, according to government figures.

The sultanate has repeatedly played the role of a mediator in regional conflicts, especially the war in Yemen between Iran-backed Huthi rebels and the internationally recognised government propped up by Saudi Arabia.

While several mosque attacks have roiled the Gulf in recent years, Tuesday's shooting is a first for Oman.

A 2015 suicide attack on a Shiite mosque in Kuwait killed at least 27 worshippers and wounded more than 200. It was claimed by the Sunni extremists of the Islamic State group.

That same year, Saudi Arabia saw two attacks on Shiite mosques in the space of one week. The twin assaults killed at least 25 people and were again claimed by IS.

In 2005, a former teacher opened fire inside a government building in Muscat, killing two people and wounding several others, before shooting himself.

Pakistan strongly condemns terrorist attack in Muscat

Pakistan has strongly condemned the dastardly terrorist attack on Imam Bargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Wadi Kabir in Muscat, Oman that resulted in multiple casualties including the death of four Pakistanis.

In a statement released in Islamabad on Tuesday, the Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that our embassy in Oman remains in contact with Omani authorities for identification and repatriation of the mortal remains of the two martyred Pakistanis.

The embassy has also opened a helpline to respond to queries from the Pakistani community in Oman and to facilitate them.

The spokesperson said that Pakistan’s Ambassador to Oman Imran Ali is also visiting local hospitals to inquire about the well-being of injured Pakistani nationals.

Mumtaz Baloch said that they were heartened that the government of Oman has neutralized the attackers. “Pakistan has offered all possible assistance to Omani authorities in the investigation and in bringing to justice of those responsible for this heinous crime in this holy month of Muharram,” she said.