At least four Pakistanis, among six people, were killed, and another 30 were injured when armed gunmen stormed an Imambargah in the Gulf emirate of Oman on Monday.
The attack, claimed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL), took place in the Imambargah Ali bin Abu Talib in Wadi Kabir in Muscat on the eve of Muharram 9 during a congregation. At least one Indian national and an Omani policeman were also killed in the gun attack.
Omani authorities responded to the attack and killed the attackers.
Pakistan's foreign office, in a statement, strongly condemned the attack and extended all possible assistance to Omani authorities in the investigation of and in bringing to justice those responsible for this heinous crime in the holy month of Muharram.
It said that Pakistan's Ambassador to Oman, Imran Ali, was in contact with Omani authorities for the repatriation of the bodies of the deceased while he was also in touch with the Pakistanis under treatment.
The attack and target of attack were both unusual in a country like Oman, which has been free of sectarian incidents and terror attacks despite having proximity to places like Pakistan and Iran.
The statement by ISIL claiming responsibility for the attack stated that at least three of its 'suicide attackers' had attacked devotees and had exchanged fire with Omani security forces until morning. It also raises questions about the organisation of ISIL or its affiliates in the region and its capability.
In March, the Islamic State group said it was behind an attack that killed more than 140 people at a concert hall near Moscow, and in January it claimed responsibility for two explosions in Iran that killed nearly 100.