Crime: Attackers kill four foreign cycling tourists in Tajikistan

Suspects [19659008] B An armed attack in Tajikistan killed four-wheeled tourists from Europe and the United States. The police did not want to rule out an "act of terrorism" on Monday. The exact circumstances are still unclear, Interior Minister Ramason Hamro Rahimsoda said in the capital Dushanbe. In the evening, the Islamic State jihadist militia (IS) claimed responsibility for the badbadination for themselves. In the hunt for the perpetrators, the police reportedly shot five suspects

According to the authorities, the tourists killed were two US citizens, one Swiss and one Dutch. Another Dutchman and a Frenchman were injured, a Frenchman escaped unscathed

The seven tourists cycled on the popular Pamir road near the border with Afghanistan while on the road. they were apparently targeted by a car. The perpetrators had "knives and firearms," ​​said the interior minister. One of the tourists was injured by knife wounds.

The jihadist (IS) militia said that a "delegation of Caliphate soldiers" had committed the attack, according to the American company SITE, which specializes in badyzing Islamist sites. The attack was aimed at "the citizens of the crossed states".

Interior Minister Rahomsoda had already said, "We are investigating in every way, we can not say if it is a terrorist act." [19659009] Information during their search five suspects – including the 21-year-old owner of the Tatfahrzeugs. Four other suspects were arrested.

The Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on Tajikistan "to make every effort to resolve this serious incident". Ministry spokeswoman Silvia Mueller continued, "If the suspicion of a terrorist attack is confirmed, this will be reflected in the travel tips for Tajikistan."

The Berlin Foreign Ministry on Monday recommended tourists. and be careful. "

Tajik police first spoke of a traffic accident with driver leakage, but evidence of a targeted attack was condensed.

Belgian cyclist, arrived at the scene shortly after the attack, described his impressions in the Flemish radio station VRT. "One of them told me that he was not going to be there. they had been hit by a car and the people in the car stabbed them, "said Nicolas Moerman." Several cyclists lay on the ground, they were in a state of total shock. "

The Muslim majority in Tajikistan is the poorest of the former Soviet republics and has been ruled with authority by President Emomali Rachmon since 1992. The authorities are suppressing religious fundamentalism In 2015, Tajikistan was subjected to severe measures such as forced barracks and restrictions on the pilgrimage to Mecca [19659009] The alleged attack against holidaymakers could make Tajikistan's tourism strategy sensitive. The government proclaimed 2018 "The Year of Tourism". Foreigners obtained visa clearance and the government severely punished officials in the notoriously corrupt country for collecting bribes from travelers.

Tajikistan is a picturesque mountainous country with many attractions. According to the World Bank, about 400,000 foreigners came to visit in 2015.