Three Spanish tourists killed by gunmen in central Afghanistan

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a post on social media he was “overwhelmed by the news of the murder of Spanish tourists in Afghanistan”.

Offering his condolences to the families and friends of the victims, he said he was following the situation closely and pledged consular support.

At least one Spanish national was also among those injured, Spain’s foreign ministry said.

Mountainous Bamiyan is home to a Unesco world heritage site and the remains of two giant Buddha statues which were blown up by the Taliban during their previous rule in 2001.

Since retaking power in Afghanistan in 2021 the Taliban have vowed to restore security and encourage a small but growing number of tourists trickling into the country. The Taliban government sells tickets to access the site of the Buddha statues.

Though the country’s civil war ended with the Taliban takeover, the Islamic State group has carried out attacks on the Taliban and there is an anti-Taliban insurgency in some areas.