Anim patay sa isang ‘rare attack’ sa Oman na inaangkin ng Islamic State group
This image grab from a UGC video taken on July 16, 2024 shows people fleeing the scene of a shooting at the Imam Ali Mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area in the east of Oman’s capital Muscat. Six people were killed and multiple others wounded in the incident, police said on July 16. Such an attack is rare in the Sultanate, which has regularly played the role of mediator in regional conflicts. Shiites this week mark Ashura, an annual day of mourning that commemorates the 7th-century battlefield martyrdom of Hussein. (Photo by UGC / AFP)
Anim katao kabilang ang apat na Pakistani ang namatay at halos 30 naman ang nasugatan sa shooting incident malapit sa isang Shiite mosque sa Muscat, kabisera ng Oman, na itinuturing na isang ‘rare attack’ na inaangkin ng Islamic State.
Ayon sa pahayag ng pulisya, “The Royal Oman Police have responded to a shooting incident that occurred in the vicinity of a mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area of the capital. The three gunmen behind the attack were killed and police officers have concluded the procedures for dealing with the shooting.”
Sinabi pa ng pulisya, kabilang sa anim na namatay ay isang pulis at 28 katao naman na may iba’t ibang nasyonalidad ang nasugatan, kasama ang rescuers at paramedics.
Inangkin ng Islamic State jihadist group ang pag-atake, sa pagsasabing tatlo sa kanilang fighters ang nasa likod ng pamamaril na ang target ay mga Shiite.
Sa pahayag naman ng foreign ministry ng Islamabad ay nakasaad, “At least four Pakistanis were martyred as a result of gunshots in the dastardly terrorist attack on the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque. Another 30 Pakistanis were wounded.”
Sa kanilang post sa social media platform na X, sinabi ng Indian embassy sa Oman na isang Indian ang namatay at may isa namang nasugatan.
Sa isang panayam ay sinabi ni Pakistani ambassador to Oman Imran Ali, “Shiite mosque was mostly frequented by south Asian expatriates. Oman is home to at least 400,000 Pakistanis.”
Sinabi naman ni Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, “I was deeply saddened by the terrorist attack. Pakistan stands in solidarity with the Sultanate of Oman and offers full assistance in the investigation.”
Kinondena ni Iran foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani ang naturang pamamaril bilang isang “divisive act.”
Ayon kay Ali, “There was little information on the perpetrators or their possible motive. Everyone is being tight-lipped about this. The attack created a difficult situation.”
Binisita rin niya ang mga ospital kung saan ginagamot ang mga sugatan, at sa isang video message ay hinimok niya ang mga Pakistani na nasa Oman, na makipagtulungan sa mga awtoridad at iwasan mula ang mga lugar sa paligid ng mosque.
Aniya, “Our officers are on standby for emergency blood donations in the embassy. A hotline has been set up to assist the wounded and their relatives.”
Nagpalabas naman ng security alert ang American embassy sa Muscat kasunod ng shooting incident, at kinansela ang visa appointments.
Ayon sa alerto, “US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities.”
Kasunod nang pag-atake sinabi ng pulisya, “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.”
Namalagi ring nakakordon ang lugar, kaya’t hindi mapuntahan ng mga mamamahayag ang mosque.
May nangyari nang ilang pag-atake sa Shiite mosques nitong nagdaang mga taon, ngunit ito ang unang beses na naganap ito sa Oman.
