Oman mosque shooting: Death toll climbs as UAE condemns attack

The number of fatalities in this week’s shooting incident in Oman has climbed to 9, according to the Royal Oman Police. In a statement released on Twitter, the police force said that five of the deceased were worshippers, three were the perpetrators and one a policeman.

Reports have indicated that four of the deceased worshippers are from Pakistan, with one being from India.

Meanwhile, Imran Ali, Pakistan’s ambassador to Oman, told The National that at least 20 of the injured are being treated for bullet wounds in three hospitals in Muscat. Others with minor injuries have been discharged.

Ali revealed that a number of worshippers, including women and children, were taken hostage by the gunmen and later released by armed police. “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,” he said.

Omani authorities are treating this as a major incident.

A updated statement from the Royal Oman Police confirmed the incident, as well as the number of fatalities.

Statement on the concluding of the procedures for dealing with the shooting incident in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area.. pic.twitter.com/MgGEl8nrf6

— شرطة عُمان السلطانية (@RoyalOmanPolice) July 16, 2024

UAE authorities have also condemned the attack.

“The UAE has strongly condemned the shooting incident in a mosque courtyard in Wadi Kabir in the Sultanate of Oman, which led to deaths and injury to several innocent people, and expressed solidarity with all measures implemented by Oman to protect its security and stability,” read a statement from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday.

“The Ministry expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of the Sultanate of Oman, and to the families of the victims of this heinous crime, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured,” said the ministry.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy in Muscat has also issued a security alert for American citizens following the incident.

Security Alert for American citizens:
The U.S. Embassy is following reports of the shooting incident in Wadi Kabir. U.S. citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities. pic.twitter.com/7aob35orAc

— U.S. Embassy Muscat (@USEmbMuscat) July 16, 2024