Four Pakistanis among six killed in shooting incident near mosque in Oman

• Several people are also injured in gunfire attack. 
• Royal Oman Police respond to shooting incident. 
• Pakistan envoy says investigation is underway. 

At least six people including four Pakistanis and an Indian were killed by gunfire in the vicinity of a mosque in Oman's capital of Muscat, the Omani police said on Tuesday, a rare breach of security in one of the most stable countries in the Middle East.

Police say three gunmen behind attack were also killed as officers conclude "procedures for dealing with shooting". 

A police officer was were among those killed in the gun attack, according to Omani officials.

Pakistan's Ambassador to Oman Imran Ali told The National that at least 50 Pakistani expatriate workers had been injured in the deadly attack, of which 20 were being "treated for bullet wounds in three hospitals in Muscat".

Others with minor injuries had been discharged, he added. 

However, the Oman's police said that 28 people of "various nationalities" including a security personnel were also wounded. 

"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.

They have not said whether they have identified a motive for the attack or if they had made any arrests. The identity of the attackers has also not been released.

The law enforcement officials also said that all security measures have been taken to deal with the situation while procedures are underway for collecting evidence and probing the attack. 

According to the Embassy of Pakistan, a terrorist attack took place on July 15 in the Wadi Kabir Muscat area by unknown assailants.

It said that the authorities have cordoned off the area with drone and the surveillance is underway, adding that the operation by the Omani authorities started at 2:30am Muscat time after evacuation.

"Government has put up high alert and emergency at state level as well as some injured are shifted to nearby hospitals," said the embassy, adding that it established an Emergency Response Centre and teams which are in contact with patients and their families.

It also mentioned that Ambassador of Pakistan in Oman Ali has visited the hospitals and meeting with affected Pakistani families.

Indian embassy in Oman confirmed the death of one of its citizens. In a statement posted on X, the embassy said that the casualties included one Indian national, while another was among the injured. 

Meanwhile, US embassy in Muscat said it was following the situation closely.

"US citizens should remain vigilant, monitor local news and heed directions of local authorities," it said in a statement.

Additional input from Reuters