ISIS claims responsibility for Oman mosque attack that left nine people dead

Worshippers tell of barrage of gunfire into mosque compound

LATEST: 'Non-believers, this is your end': Oman mosque survivors say gunmen chanted as they fired

ISIS has claimed responsibility for an attack at a Shiite mosque in Oman that left at least nine people dead, including three attackers.

The attack on Monday night raises fears that ISIS may be trying to gain a foothold in new territory - though it has previously claimed responsibility for atrocities it had no direct hand in.

Three fighters attacked the mosque in the Wadi Al Kabir, on the outskirts of Muscat, on Monday night where Shiite worshippers were commemorating Ashura.

They fired on those at the mosque then exchanged gunfire with Omani security troops until morning. ISIS published on its Telegram site what it said was a video of the attack.

Four Pakistanis, an Indian and a police officer were among those killed, according to Pakistani, Indian and Omani officials.

Royal Oman Police said the three gunmen were killed and 28 people were injured, including four emergency service personnel.

Police said investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting were continuing and have made no statement on the gunmen's motives.

The UAE and Arab League strongly condemned the shooting and offered their solidarity to the people of Oman.

Pakistan's ambassador to the sultanate told The National at least 50 Pakistani expatriate workers were injured.

Imran Ali said that at least 20 were being treated for bullet wounds in three hospitals in Muscat. India's embassy in Muscat said one Indian was killed and another injured in the attack.

'It was raining bullets'

Shaandar Bukhari was among the hundreds of worshippers at the mosque compound on Monday night when gunmen armed with automatic rifles began firing on the crowd. The 42-year-old said he is traumatised after seeing people shot to death.

He said he pushed children, women and the elderly to safety into the mosque from the parking area, but wished he could have done more.

“It was raining bullets all around me. I don’t know how I survived,” he told The National from the hospital where he is being treated for bullet grazes to his arms.

"I managed to save people but I cry thinking of all the people I could not save.

“It was barbaric, they were inhuman. People fell hurt in the parking lot and they were still firing at the bodies as if to make sure they wouldn’t survive.”

Syed Hassan, also from Pakistan, said his teenage son was shot.

Mr Hassan and other survivors said people were trapped inside the mosque were they had sought shelter when it was hit by a barrage of gunfire.

Volunteers quickly guided worshippers into the mosque to escape the hail of bullets.

“We were standing outside to check the crowds and we suddenly heard a weird noise like a car tyre burst,” said Mr Hassan.

“Then we heard continuous fire from different places. We ran into the mosque and we were being fired on and my son got hit by a bullet.

“We tried to keep people calm but there was so much fear because there was so much shooting.”

Pakistani leader offers support

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences to those who lost their lives in the shooting.

"Deeply saddened by the terrorist attack on Imam Bargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Muscat, Oman, resulting in the loss of precious lives, including four Pakistani nationals," he wrote on X.

"My heart goes out to the families of the victims. I have instructed the Pakistan embassy in Muscat to extend all possible assistance to the injured and visit the hospitals personally.

"Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Sultanate of Oman and offers full assistance in the investigation."

The Pakistani embassy said the citizens killed were Ghulam Abbas, Hasan Abbas, Sayyed Qaisar Abbas and Sulaiman Nawaz.

It said 30 Pakistanis are being treated in hospital.

The deadly shooting occurred outside Imam Ali Mosque in the Wadi Kabir area on the outskirts of the capital on Monday night, Royal Oman Police said.

It happened on a religious occasion that holds particular significance for Shiite Muslims.

Omani authorities have released few details about the incident, in what is one of the safest countries in the world, and have not commented on the hostage incident that Mr Ali described.

“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.”

Footage emerged that showed that the police operation continued into Tuesday morning.

Officers in body armour are seen in the video with their backs against a wall as they prepare to raid a building. Gunfire can be heard.

Verified footage from the night before showed crowds running from the sound of gunfire after late-night prayers.

The shooting occurred on the night of the ninth day of Muharram, which is considered sacred by Shiite Muslims.

The 10th day marks Ashura, an annual day of mourning that commemorates the seventh century death of the Prophet Mohammed's grandson Hussein.

Mr Ali thanked the Omani government for taking care of the injured and asked members of 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.”

'Trying to create hatred'

Nearby residents, who were told by authorities to remain in their homes and not share photos or video of the security operation, said they were stunned by the attack.

Basil Al Lawati, 20, an Omani computer science student who lives close to the mosque, heard gunshots ring out late on Monday night.

"Whoever has done this is just trying to create hatred, but we should stand united during these testing times and emerge stronger," he told The National.

"We have people of different faiths, sects and ethnicities living here in harmony. "

Salma Ahmed, 42, a teacher, said such violence was unheard of in the sultanate, where gun ownership is low and crime rare.

"We have never heard of something like this happening here, not in the 40 years I have lived in Muscat," she said.

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

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

“US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities,” the embassy wrote on X.