International Desk: In a rare and tragic event, an Indian national was among six people killed in a shooting attack orchestrated by the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group near the Imam Ali Mosque in Muscat, Oman. The attack, which occurred on Monday night, also resulted in the deaths of a local policeman and four Pakistani nationals and left 28 others injured.
The Embassy of India in Muscat confirmed the death of an Indian citizen and reported that another Indian was injured in the incident. “Following the shooting incident reported in Muscat city on July 15, the Foreign Ministry of the Sultanate of Oman has informed that one Indian national has lost his life & another is injured,” the embassy posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. “Embassy offers its sincere condolences & stands ready to offer all assistance to the families,” the statement added.
The shooting took place near the Shia Muslim Imam Ali Mosque in the al-Wadi al-Kabir area. The three attackers were killed by security forces during the incident, according to a statement released by local authorities.
The Pakistani government also confirmed that four of its nationals were among the victims in what they described as a “terrorist attack” on the Imam Ali Mosque. The Islamic State militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
While ISIS has a history of targeting Shia ceremonies, processions, and worshippers in countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, this marks the first time the group has claimed an attack in Oman, where the Shia community is a minority.
The attack has sent shockwaves through the normally peaceful nation of Oman, highlighting the reach and continuing threat posed by ISIS in the region.
