The Diplomat
Three Spanish tourists died and at least one was injured yesterday as a result of a shooting in Afghanistan, as reported by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and confirmed by Foreign Affairs sources based on the information that has reached the Ministry in contact with the Delegation of the European Union in the area.
“Overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan,” declared Sánchez through the social network X. “I am following the situation punctually,” he continued. “I want to convey all my affection to his family and friends,” he added.
According to the aforementioned Foreign Affairs sources, the Ministry is working, through the Consular Emergency Unit, to clarify the circumstances, assist those affected with everything they need and contact their families. Spain has not had an Embassy in Kabul since August 2021, when the Taliban took Afghanistan. The Foreign Affairs travel recommendations ask Spaniards not to travel “under any circumstances to Afghanistan” because “there is a risk of kidnapping or attack throughout the country.”
The attack was carried out by several unidentified gunmen in Bamiyan, in the center of the country, a region known for its historical monuments and natural landscapes and which had been relatively quiet compared to other areas of the country.
The victims also include a deceased Afghan, and four other foreigners and three injured Afghans. The spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior of Afghanistan, Abdul Mateen Qani, reported the arrest of four people allegedly related to the shooting and assured that “the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns this incident, expresses its deep sympathy to the families of the victims and ensures that all criminals will be found and punished.”
According to ‘The New York Times’, the shooting occurred after at least one gunman opened fire on a group of tourists when they were walking through the city bazaar. The shooting has not been claimed by any beloved group. This is the first deadly attack against foreign tourists since the Taliban regained power in August 2021.
