Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an attack by gunmen in Afghanistan’s central Bamiyan province that killed three Spanish tourists on Friday.
The Taliban’s interior ministry spokesperson, Abdul Mateen Qani, said on Sunday that four people had been arrested over the attack. One Afghan citizen was also killed and four foreigners and three Afghans were injured in the attack, he added.
Mountainous Bamiyan is home to a Unesco world heritage site and the remains of two giant Buddha statues that were blown up by the Taliban during their previous rule in 2001.
Since taking over Afghanistan in 2021, the Taliban have pledged to restore security and encouraged a small but growing number of tourists trickling back into the country. They have sold tickets to see the site of the destroyed Buddha statues.
Friday’s attack was among the most serious targeting foreign citizens since foreign forces left and the Taliban took over in 2021.
Islamic State previously claimed responsibility for an attack that injured Chinese citizens at a hotel popular with Chinese business people in Kabul in 2022.
