Seven suspects were arrested at the scene in Bamiyan province, a major tourist area, and an investigation was under way, said Abdul Mateen Qani, a spokesman for the interior minister.

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Qani did not give the nationality of the foreign citizens, but the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement that three Spaniards had died in the attack and that at least one more had been wounded.

A Taliban official in Bamiyan who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media said the four wounded foreigners were from Australia, Spain, Norway and Latvia.

Blame for the attack is likely to fall on Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan, a major Taliban rival. IS militants have carried out scores of attacks on schools, hospitals, mosques and minority Shiite areas throughout the country.

The Taliban seized power in Afghanistan in August 2021 when NATO forces were in the final weeks of their withdrawal from the country after 20 years of war.

The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan said that it was deeply shocked and appalled by the attack on civilians.

“We express our condolences to the victims of the attack, and are providing assistance following the incident,” the UN mission said on X.

With AP

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