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

The Islamic State (ISIS) on Sunday (May 19) claimed responsibilityfor the attack targeting tourists in Afghanistan's Bamiyanthat 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 groupwas fired on while shopping in a market in Bamiyan. ISIS fighters attackeda "bus of tourists who are citizens of coalition countries", referring to a US-led coalition that battled the terrorist groupin 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 sevensuspects

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 thatan investigation was on and the Islamic Emirate was seriously looking into the matter.

This attackis believedto be the first deadly assault on foreign tourists since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan in 2021. The injured belong toSpain, Lithuania, Norway, Australia andAfghanistan.

Injured are in stable condition:Hospital

All the injured tourists in the attack were in a stable condition, the news agency AFP reported on Sundaycitingthe hospitalthey were takento.

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

Spanish diplomats had travelled toAfghanistanand had been working to repatriate the bodies of the dead and transfer thewounded,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, withofficial figures stating thatmore than 5,000 foreign tourists visited the country.

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

(With inputs from agencies)