Three individuals attacked Shia worshippers at Ali bin Abi Talib Mosque in the Wadi Kabir neighborhood of the Omani capital of Muscat, killing nine people, including an Indian and four Pakistanis, and injuring at least 28 others.
The attack occurred early Tuesday morning when attendees were participating in Ashura festivities, reported Middle East Eye.
Omani authorities reported that five worshippers, a police officer, and three alleged attackers were killed. Officials in Islamabad say at least four of those slain are Pakistanis.
“According to the latest information received from the Omani authorities, four Pakistanis were martyred as a result of gunshots in the dastardly terrorist attack on the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque in Wadi Kabeer area in Muscat, Oman,” said the Pakistani Foreign ministry.
“Another 30 Pakistanis are being treated in hospitals. We are still in close contact with Omani authorities,” it added.
“The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident,” Omani security officials said in a statement published on X.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed “deep sadness” over the terrorist incident.
In a statement posted on social media site X, he stated, “Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Sultanate of Oman and offers full assistance in the investigation.”
The majority of Muslims in the country are Ibadi, with Sunni and Shia minority.
The Sultanate also includes minor Hindu and Christian populations, which are mostly made up of expatriate laborers.
Oman, located on the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, has mostly avoided sectarian strife throughout its recent history.
Ashura, which comes from the Arabic word “asharah” meaning ten, is observed on the tenth day of Muharram. Sunni Muslims observe it as a day of fasting and thankfulness, commemorating the day God saved Prophet Musa (Moses) and the Israelites from Pharaoh.
The Shia sect commemorates in this day the killing of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Husayn ibn Ali, during the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE, is one of the most important dates on the Shia calendar.