Muscat: A manhunt is underway for four suspects who allegedly murdered an entire Omani family then fled the country, according to Royal Oman Police.

A father, mother and their three sons, aged 12, 9 and 6, were found dead in the family home in Wilayat Bidiyah last week.

They had been murdered with knives and hammers. It took two days for relatives to discover what had happened and raise the alarm but by then the suspects had already fled Oman.

The Royal Oman Police said in a statement: “Searches and investigations through international channels are underway to track those who were involved in the crime. Due to the delay in reporting the crime the accused managed to escape the country.”

According to sources, the suspects had planned the gruesome attack. The father worked for the Bidiyah court and the mother taught the holy Quran to women in the area.

The family members were laid to rest on Friday, August 2.