Indian National Among Six Killed in Muscat Mosque Attack

Indian National Among Six Killed in Muscat Mosque Attack

VoM News Desk | July 17, 2024 | 01:49 PM IST | Oman, World | Follow on Google News

Indian National Among Six Killed in Muscat Mosque Attack

Indian National Among Six Killed in Muscat Mosque Attack

1. Indian national among six killed in Muscat mosque attack.
2. Three attackers killed; investigation ongoing.
3. Incident occurred during Ashura, a significant day for Muslims.

An Indian national was among six people killed in an attack on the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque in Muscat, the capital city of Oman. The Indian embassy in Muscat confirmed the casualty and also reported that another Indian had been injured in the gun attack on the night of July 16. The incident occurred in the Al Wadi Al Kabir area on Monday night.

In a statement, the Indian Embassy in Muscat said, “Following the shooting incident reported in Muscat city on 15 July, the Foreign Ministry of Sultanate of Oman has informed that one Indian national has lost his life and another is injured. The Embassy offers its sincere condolences and stands ready to offer all assistance to the families.”

According to the Oman News Agency, three attackers were killed. The Royal Oman Police (ROP) and the military and security services have concluded procedures addressing the shooting incident. Among those killed were four Pakistanis and a policeman, with at least 28 other people from various nationalities injured. The injured have been transferred to health institutions for treatment. Investigations into the incident have begun.

The Times of Oman reported an eyewitness account of the shooting: “The hall of the mosque was packed with hundreds of worshippers, and the atmosphere was heavy with tension as the sound of panicked, laboured breathing grew louder. The relentless firing of bullets echoed for over an hour, eventually becoming sporadic, but for nearly three hours, death loomed over us.” The expatriate recounted that around “500-600 people” were in the mosque courtyard when they first heard sounds resembling fireworks, followed by cries of “Bhaago, Bhaago [run, run].”

The Royal Oman Police expressed their condolences and sympathies to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Such attacks are rare in Oman, a frequent regional mediator with a low crime rate. The incident coincides with Ashura, a significant day for Muslims. Shia Muslims commemorate Ashura by remembering the seventh-century battlefield martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, often marked by a pilgrimage to Imam Hussein’s shrine in the Iraqi city of Karbala. Sunni Muslims observe the day through fasting.

VoM News Desk

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