Islamic State has claimed responsibility after three Spanish tourists were killed when gunmen opened fire in Afghanistan’s central Bamiyan province.
An Afghan person was also killed, and a further four foreign nationals and three Afghans were injured in the attack in the mountainous region, the Taliban’s interior ministry has said.
Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram channel.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
1:08
From 11 May: Hundreds feared dead in Afghanistan floods
Bamiyan province is home to the remains of two giant Buddha statues blown up by the Taliban in 2001 and the region is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Tourism in Afghanistan peaked in the 1960s and 1970s when the country formed part of the popular “hippy trail” route.
Since seizing power in August 2021, the Taliban has tried to promote Afghanistan as a travel destination – despite the fact many countries’ foreign offices, including the UK’s, say it is unsafe to travel to.
While the numbers remain small, their efforts appear to have so far paid off. In 2021, 691 foreign tourists visited Afghanistan and by 2023, the number had risen to 7,000.