﴿ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّآ أُرْسِلْنَآ إِلَىٰ قَوْمٍۢ مُّجْرِمِينَ ﴾

“They answered: "We are sent to people lost in sin [who are to be destroyed],”

(They said: We have been sent unto a guilty folk) to idolaters who brought destruction upon themselves because of their evil acts, meaning here the people of Lot.