Islamic State claimed responsibility for an attack at a Shi’ite Muslim mosque in Oman on Monday, leaving at least nine people dead, including three attackers. This marks a rare security breach in the oil-producing Gulf state, raising fears of the group trying to gain a foothold.
The Indian embassy has confirmed that an Indian national was killed and another injured in a shooting at a mosque in Muscat on Monday.The rare act of gun violence in Oman’s capital occurred during a Shia event and resulted in nine deaths.
Three suicide attackers from the Islamic State targeted a gathering of Shi’ite Muslims while they were practicing their annual rituals at a temple in the Wadi al-Kabir district in Oman’s capital, according to the group’s statement. The Islamic State fighters fired on Shi’ite worshippers and exchanged gunfire with Omani security forces until the morning.
“Three suicide attackers from the Islamic State attacked last night a gathering of Shi’ite (Muslims) while they were practicing their annual rituals at a temple in the Wadi al-Kabir district in the (Omani) capital,” the group’s statement read, citing three security sources.
The group also released a video of the attack on its Telegram site late on Tuesday. According to the same statement, the attack left more than 30 Shi’ite Muslims and five Omani forces, including a police officer, either killed or wounded.