Islamic State Claims Responsibility for Attack on Shia Omani Mosque
The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group claimed responsibility on Tuesday for the attack on a Shiite mosque in Oman that killed six people and wounded dozens more. The self-proclaimed transnational Sunni caliphate declared in a statement late that evening that three of its “suicide attackers” opened fire on the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque near the Omani capital of Muscat.
Along with the three IS fighters, four Pakistanis, one Indian national, and an Omani police officer were killed in the subsequent firefight, officials from all three countries confirmed. The assault also wounded people of at least 28 different nationalities.
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While Omani authorities have yet to publicly announce a motive or disclose the identities of the attackers, the Pakistani government referred to the incident as a “terrorist attack.” After visiting victims in the hospital, the Pakistani ambassador to Oman called the attack “a very unprecedented event … the likes of it we have not seen in Oman’s history.”
Monday’s attack occurred at the onset of Ashura, a period of mourning recognized by Shiite Muslims commemorating the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. IS referenced this in Tuesday’s statement, claiming the fighters targeted worshippers as they were “practicing their annual rituals.”
Located on the eastern corner of the Arabian Peninsula, Oman is one of the region’s safest and wealthiest countries. While most of the country subscribes to either Ibadi or Sunni Islam, there is a small, influential Shia population.
