Oman shooting incident claims lives of six people including four Pakistanis

MUSCAT: Six people including four Pakistanis and an Indian were killed while several others sustained injuries in a shooting attack near a mosque in Oman's capital of Muscat. 

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" of the capital, a police statement said.

The three gunmen behind the attack were killed and police officers have "concluded the procedures for dealing with the shooting," it said.

It gave a toll of six killed, including a police officer. 

Pakistan's Ambassador to Oman Imran Ali told The National that at least 50 Pakistani expatriate workers had been injured in the deadly attack, of which 20 were being "treated for bullet wounds in three hospitals in Muscat".

Others with minor injuries had been discharged, he added. 

However, Oman's police said 28 people "from various nationalities" were wounded, including rescuers and paramedics.

According to the police, all security measures have been taken to deal with the situation while procedures are underway for collecting evidence and probing the attack.

According to the Embassy of Pakistan, a terrorist attack took place on July 15 in the Wadi Kabir Muscat area by unknown assailants.

It said that the authorities have cordoned off the area with drone and the surveillance is underway, adding that the operation by the Omani authorities started at 2:30am Muscat time after evacuation.

"Government has put up high alert and emergency at state level as well as some injured are shifted to nearby hospitals," said the embassy, adding that it established an Emergency Response Centre and teams which are in contact with patients and their families.

It also mentioned that Ambassador of Pakistan in Oman Ali has visited the hospitals and meeting with affected Pakistani families.

Meanwhile, Indian embassy in Oman confirmed the death of one of its citizens. In a statement posted on X, the embassy said that the casualties included one Indian national, while another was among the injured. 

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

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

Additional input from AFP