On Tuesday morning, Oman’s police reported a shooting incident near a mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area of Muscat, resulting in the death of four people and injuries to several others.
In an official statement released on the social media platform X, the police confirmed the fatalities and injuries based on initial information.
The statement emphasized that the police have taken all necessary security measures to manage the situation and are currently investigating the incident.
Footage circulating on social media platforms shows people fleeing near the mosque, identifiable by its minaret, while gunshots can be heard in the background.
“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,” police said in a statement.
The US Embassy in the Omani capital, Muscat, issued a security alert to American citizens after a shooting in the nearby Wadi Al Kabir area, at a time when the incident sparked interaction on social media.
The US embassy statement said that American citizens must remain vigilant, monitor local news and adhere to the directives of local authorities.
The embassy added that visa appointments scheduled for Tuesday will be cancelled as a safety precaution.
Such shooting attacks are rare in Oman, a country known for its role as a mediator in regional conflicts.