Muscat, Oman
Four people died and multiple others were injured in a shooting near a mosque in Oman's capital Muscat, police said on Tuesday (Jul 16).
"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.
At least four have been killed and several others were wounded at the mosque in eastern Muscat, police informed.
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The United States embassy in Muscat immediately issued a security alert following the shooting and cancelled all visa appointments scheduled for Tuesday.
"US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities," the embassy wrote on social media platform X.
Dear Applicants, Visa appointments at the U.S. Embassy are cancelled today due to safety precautions following the shooting at Wadi Al Kabir. Normal operations may resume tomorrow, July 16th.
All visa appointments scheduled for Tuesday, July 15th will be rescheduled. Please…
— U.S. Embassy Muscat (@USEmbMuscat) July 16, 2024
Footage verified by news agency AFP shows people fleeing near Imam Ali Mosque, its minaret visible, as gunshots ring out.
The police informed that all necessary security measures were taken to handle the situation.
"The authorities are continuing to gather evidence and conduct investigations to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident," the force said on X.
(With inputs from agencies)