LATEST: 'Hostages taken and more than 50 injured' in Oman mosque attack
Four people were killed and several wounded in a shooting near a mosque on the outskirts of Muscat, Oman's capital, police said on Tuesday.
“The Royal Oman Police have responded to a shooting incident that occurred in the vicinity of a mosque in Al Wadi Al Kabir area,” the force said.
It gave an initial toll of four killed and “several others” wounded at the mosque in the eastern part of the capital. The incident is believed to have taken place around midnight.
It said “all necessary security measures and procedures have been taken to handle the situation”.
“The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” it added.
Footage on social media showed dozens of people fleeing near Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunshots ring out. The gunfire is continuous and could be from automatic weapons.
Other videos show the firing continued as emergency services vehicles visible at the scene.
Such an attack is extremely rare in the Sultanate.
The US embassy in Muscat issued a security alert following the shooting and cancelled all visa appointments on Tuesday.
“US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities,” the embassy wrote on social media platform X.
In the footage, a voice can be heard saying “oh God” and repeating “oh Hussein”, referring to the imam who Shiites view as the rightful successor to the Prophet Mohammed.
Shiites this week mark Ashura, an annual day of mourning that commemorates the 7th century battlefield death of Hussein.
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