Oman: Mass Shooting at Mosque, 6 Dead & 50 Injured
A terrorist attack on Muscat's Imam Ali Mosque killed six and injured around 50 during Ashura, while an oil tanker capsized off Oman's coast, leaving 16 crew members missing.
In a tragic incident, terrorists opened fire at worshippers in the Shia Muslim Imam Ali Mosque in Muscat, Oman, on the night of 15th July 2024. Worshippers had gathered for the Shia holy day of Ashura when three attackers began shooting from a nearby building.
Six people died and around 50 were injured in the attack. A video showing worshippers running through the mosque’s courtyard with gunshots in the background has gone viral. The video captures the terrified worshippers shouting “O God,” “O Hussein,” and “I am here, O Hussein.”
Some worshippers were taken hostage by the attackers. Muscat security forces successfully neutralized all three attackers and rescued the hostages, though one policeman was killed during the operation. The Muscat Police expressed their condolences to the victims' families and announced an ongoing investigation. However, they have not yet released details about the victims, gunmen, or the motive behind the attack.
Pakistan stated that four Pakistanis died in the attack. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered his condolences and ordered the Pakistani Embassy in Muscat to assist the injured Pakistanis. Indian authorities also announced that one Indian died and several were injured. The Sunni Muslim jihadist group Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, marking their first claimed attack in Oman.
In another incident on the same day, an oil tanker named Prestige Falcon capsized off the coast of Oman. The ship, which was traveling to the Yemeni port city of Aden, capsized around 50 km southeast of Duqm town. Built in 2007 and flying the Comoros flag, the 117-meter-long ship remains submerged and inverted.
All 16 crew members—13 Indians and 3 Sri Lankans—are missing. Omani authorities have initiated a search and rescue operation with their Navy officials. The Indian Navy has also deployed its warship INS Teg and surveillance aircraft P-8I to assist in finding and rescuing the crew.
