Afghanistan tourist attack: ISIS claims responsibility for shooting that killed six

The Islamic State (ISIS) on Sunday (May 19) claimed responsibility for the attack targeting tourists in Afghanistan's Bamiyan that killed six and injured many others. In a statement on Telegram, ISIS said that its fighters shot at Christian tourists and their Shiite companions with machine guns. Six people- three Spaniards and three Afghans- were killed.

The tourist group was fired on while shopping in a market in Bamiyan. ISIS fighters attacked a "bus of tourists who are citizens of coalition countries", referring to a US-led coalition that battled the terrorist group in the Middle East.

"The attack comes in line with the directives of the leaders of the Islamic State to target nationals of coalition countries wherever they may be," it further said in the Telegram post.

Taliban arrest seven suspects

Earlier, Taliban officials said that they had arrested seven suspects in the aftermath of the attack.

One of the suspects was wounded, Taliban's Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Qani said, adding that an investigation was on and the Islamic Emirate was seriously looking into the matter.

Also read | Afghanistan tourist attack: Injured in shooting are stable, says hospital

This attack is believed to be the first deadly assault on foreign tourists since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The injured belong to Spain, Lithuania, Norway, Australia and Afghanistan. 

Injured are in stable condition: Hospital

All the injured tourists in the attack were in a stable condition, the news agency AFP reported on Sunday citing the hospital they were taken to.

The tourist group had 13 travellers, including six Spanish nationals. 

Spanish diplomats had travelled to Afghanistan and had been working to repatriate the bodies of the dead and transfer the wounded, in coordination with a European Union (EU) delegation in Kabul.

The number of bombings and suicide attacks in Afghanistan has reduced since the Taliban took over. However, ISIS and a number of other armed groups remain a threat.

More and more foreign travellers are visiting Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, with official figures stating that more than 5,000 foreign tourists visited the country.

But Western nations advise against all travel to the country, warning of elevated risks of kidnappings and attacks. 

(With inputs from agencies)