Muscat: Grand Mufti Expresses Shock Over Omani Involvement in Deadly Mosque Attack
The attack occurred early on Tuesday in Wadi al-Kabir, a district east of the capital city, Muscat, as Shia Muslims were holding mourning rituals to mark Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS).
The three gunmen, who killed six people in the attack claimed by Daesh, were all Omani citizens, according to police.
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"We did not imagine that the perpetrators of the crime that occurred were Omani citizens, and we were truly surprised by this," Sheikh Al Khalili said in a statement, The National News reported on Friday.
"The norm in this good country is that Omani education rejects, by nature, any aggression against a citizen or expatriate due to an intellectual or sectarian disagreement."
The gunmen "were killed due to their insistence on resisting security personnel," the Royal Oman Police said.
Investigations indicated the attackers were "influenced by misguided ideas," the police added.
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“Whatever the difference between the groups of the nation in perception and belief or in the practices of religious rituals, it must not lead to aggression by some against others in their religious sanctities,” Sheikh Ahmed said in an earlier statement, warning that the attack "only breeds hatred and strife."
Four Pakistani citizens, an Indian, and a police officer were killed in the attack.
Source: Agencies
