An Australian tourist was wounded in a shooting in Afghanistan that resulted in fatalities.

A group of tourists, including an Australian, were caught in the crossfire of a deadly shooting in central Afghanistan. The incident occurred late on Friday in the province of Bamyan, with at least six people losing their lives - three Spanish citizens and three Afghans. Initially, the Taliban reported four casualties, but an official from Bamyan, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that four foreign nationals were also injured in the attack.

The injured tourists were identified as citizens of Spain, Norway, Australia, and Latvia. The Australian government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) stated that they are providing consular assistance to the Australian in Afghanistan. However, due to privacy obligations, they are unable to provide any further comment at this time. The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement, confirming the death of three Spaniards and injury of another in the attack. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his shock and sadness at the news, describing the victims as tourists.

Seven suspects were apprehended at the scene by authorities in Bamyan, a popular tourist destination in Afghanistan. An investigation is currently underway to determine the motive behind the shooting. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the Taliban's interior ministry, seven other people, including foreign nationals, were also wounded in the incident.

The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, just as US and NATO forces were completing their withdrawal after two decades of war. The blame for this attack is likely to be placed on the Islamic State group's affiliate in Afghanistan, which is a major rival of the Taliban. The IS militants have a history of targeting schools, hospitals, mosques, and minority Shiite areas throughout the country. Bamyan, in particular, is known for its ancient Buddha statues that were destroyed by the Taliban in 2001 at the urging of al-Qaida.

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