Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly attack on Shi'ite mosque in Oman

DUBAI — Islamic State, the Sunni Muslim dominated militant group, claimed responsibility on Tuesday (July 16) for an assault on a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Oman that left at least nine people dead, including three attackers, a rare security breach in the oil-producing Gulf state.

Four Pakistanis, an Indian and a police officer were among those killed in the gun attack, according to Pakistani, Indian and Omani officials. The Oman police said 28 people of various nationalities were wounded, including security personnel.

The attack began on Monday evening at the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque in the Wadi al-Kabir neighbourhood of Oman's capital Muscat, authorities said, 500 metres from an international school and an adjacent skateboard park and less than 10 kilometres from a string of five-star beach resorts.

Such violence is exceptional in the wealthy, Sunni Muslim-dominated Gulf states — ordinarily secure and stable — raising fears that Islamic State, which has operated in the shadows since it was largely crushed by a US-led coalition in 2017, may be attempting a comeback in new territory.

Islamic State said in a statement late on Tuesday that three of its "suicide attackers" fired on worshippers at the mosque on Monday evening and exchanged gunfire with Omani security forces until morning.

The group also published what it said was a video of the attack on its Telegram site.

Another video shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed people running from the mosque while gunfire could be heard.

Police have not said whether they have identified a motive for the attack or made any arrests. Omani authorities also have not released the identity of the attackers.

A local source said the mosque was also known as Imam Ali mosque