Armed attack on tourists in Afghanistan's Bamyan province: Deaths and injuries reported
It has been reported that three Spanish tourists, two Afghans, and one unidentified person lost their lives in an armed attack in the Afghan city of Bamyan, and that seven people have been detained in connection with the incident. 12punto contributor Reyhan Küçük has compiled the details of the attack, its coverage in Spanish, Norwegian, and Australian media, and the significance of the region for tourists.
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Reyhan KÜÇÜK- 12punto.com.tr
Tourists who wanted to see the natural beauty and cultural richness of Afghanistan were targeted in an armed attack and shot to death.
AFGHAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR: 6 DEAD, 7 DETAINED FOLLOWING THE ATTACK
Following the attack in Bamyan, the ruling Afghan Ministry of Interior announced that the death toll had risen to six and that the wounded had been sent to the capital, Kabul. The ministry stated that the deceased included three Spanish tourists, two Afghans, and one unidentified person, and that seven people had been detained in connection with the events.
FOREIGN MINISTER ALBARES: "AN ATTACK OR ASSASSINATION"
In a statement issued by the Madrid State Court prosecutor's office, it was reported that the Spanish victims were two women and one man from the Catalonia region, and that another Spanish woman was seriously injured and in critical condition. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said, "Everything points to this being an attack or an assassination."
Foreign Minister Albares, citing the testimony of a witness to the events, conveyed the details of the incident as follows: "An armed person coming from a dead-end street began firing randomly at the group of tourists."
Stating that they are in close communication with the Afghan government, Foreign Minister Albares reported that negotiations are ongoing to ensure the repatriation of the three deceased citizens, the one injured citizen, and the two Spanish citizens who escaped unharmed to Spain as soon as possible.
AUSTRALIA AND NORWAY: OUR CITIZENS WERE ALSO AT THE SCENE
Australian media, citing information received from officials, reported that an Australian citizen was among the wounded. The Norwegian news agency NTB, based on information received from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that a Norwegian citizen was also among the wounded.
WHY DO THE REMAINS OF THE BUDDHA STATUES MAKE BAMYAN PROVINCE AN INTERESTING ROUTE FOR TOURISTS?
Famous for its natural beauty and cultural richness, Bamyan Province was considered one of the safest regions in the country even during the period before the Taliban returned to power, when Islamists were fighting against the Afghan government supported by international forces. Thousands of Afghans would visit the city of Bamyan or Band-e Amir National Park to see the remains of two monumental Buddha statues that bear witness to the country's pre-Islamic past.
INCREASE IN FOREIGN TOURIST NUMBERS HAD BEGUN IN AFGHANISTAN
Since the Taliban came to power in 2021 and international forces withdrew, local authorities had announced that an increase in the number of foreign tourists in the region had been recorded again. Although the security situation in the region has improved significantly with the end of the war, attacks still occur. Many of the attacks in the region are claimed by the terrorist organization "Islamic State" (ISIS), which is an enemy of the Taliban despite their ideological proximity.