ISIS Claims Responsibility for Deadly Shooting in Central Afghanistan
Last week, ISIS claimed responsibility for a shooting in central Afghanistan that left three Spaniards and three Afghans dead. The attack took place in Bamiyan province, a popular tourist area, where seven suspects were arrested.
According to Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the interior minister, the attack targeted a bus carrying tourists and their guides. ISIS stated that the attack was carried out in response to directives from its leadership to target citizens of the European Union.
Among the victims were three Spanish citizens, with at least one more wounded. Additionally, a Taliban official in Bamiyan reported that the four wounded foreigners were from Spain, Norway, Australia, and Latvia.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock and sadness over the incident on social media. All those wounded in the attack have been transferred to Kabul for treatment and are said to be in stable condition.
The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan has been a major rival to the Taliban, carrying out attacks on various targets across the country. The Taliban, which seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021, has been working to increase tourism in the country.
Bamiyan, the site of the attack, was once home to two massive Buddha statues that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001. The city has since become a popular destination for tourists, with the number of foreign visitors steadily increasing in recent years.
In a separate incident, a hand grenade explosion in Kandahar resulted in the death of at least one civilian and injuries to three others. Police are currently investigating the blast, with no group claiming responsibility at this time.
