Oman mosque attack: Islamic State claims responsibility for deadly strike that left 6 dead

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack at a Shi'ite Muslim mosque in Oman, that left at least nine people dead, including three attackers, and 30 injured. The Monday attack happened as Shiites this week mark Ashura, an annual day of mourning. The jihadist group said that three of its fighters were behind the shootings that targeted "Shiites practising their annual rituals" on the occasion of the holy mourning period of Ashura".

"Three suicide attackers from the Islamic State attacked last night a gathering of Shi'ite (Muslims) while they were practising their annual rituals at a temple in the Wadi al-Kabir district in the (Omani) capital," according to the group's statement.

Ashura commemorates the death of Imam Hussein in the seventh century who was regarded by the branch as the rightful successor to the Prophet Mohammed.

"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 city of Muscat, a police statement said.

The three gunmen behind the attack were killed, it added. A total of 28 people "from various nationalities" were wounded, including rescuers and paramedics.

The attack was a rare security breach and unusual in the wealthy, oil-producing Gulf states which have a Sunni majority population. Officials fear that the Islamic State group may be trying to gain a foothold in new territory.

IS message on Telegram

Islamic State's propaganda channel Aamaq took to Telegram to state that IS fighters "opened fire with machine guns on Shiite" worshippers, before clashing with Omani security forces. It also published what was purportedly a video of the attack.

At least four Pakistanis were killed in the attack, with another 30 injured.

The foreign ministry in Islamabad said at least "four Pakistanis were martyred as a result of gunshots in the dastardly terrorist attack on the Ali bin Abi Talib mosque."

Pakistan's ambassador to Oman, Imran Ali told AFP that the Shiite mosque was mostly frequented by south Asian expatriates. Nearly 400,000 Pakistanis live in Oman.