On Saturday, both Taliban and Spanish officials confirmed that three Spanish nationals and three Afghans had been killed in a shooting in central Afghanistan. The incident occurred on Friday evening in Bamiyan province, a popular tourist destination. Earlier reports indicated four fatalities. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. At the scene, seven suspects were detained, and an investigation is ongoing, according to Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesperson for the interior minister. He reported that seven additional people had been hurt. Qani did not identify the foreign victims’ nationalities, but the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement confirming the deaths of three Spaniards and at least one injury. A Taliban official in Bamiyan, speaking on condition of anonymity due to a lack of media authorization, stated that the four injured foreigners were from Spain, Norway, Australia, and Latvia. Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock at the news on social media platform X. All injured victims have been transported to Kabul for treatment and are said to be in stable condition, according to Qani. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) expressed profound shock and horror at the civilian attack. “We extend our condolences to the victims of the attack and are providing support following the incident,” UNAMA tweeted. The Islamic State group’s affiliate in Afghanistan, a formidable rival to the Taliban, is likely to be blamed for the attack. Militants from the Islamic State have carried out numerous attacks on schools, hospitals, mosques, and minority Shiite areas across the country. In August 2021, the Taliban took control of Afghanistan as US and NATO forces were wrapping up their 20-year war by withdrawing from the country. In April, the Associated Press visited the Taliban-run Kabul institute that trained hospitality and tourism professionals. The Taliban aim to boost the country’s tourism. Foreign tourist arrivals increased from 691 in 2021 to 2,300 in 2022, and over 7,000 in the previous year. Bamiyan is renowned for its two enormous Buddha statues, carved into a cliff face between the 4th and 6th centuries. The Taliban destroyed them at al-Qaeda’s urging in early 2001.
Six Killed, Including Three Spaniards, in Shooting in Central Afghanistan
