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| IS claims fatal Tajik attack on foreign cyclists | IS claims fatal Tajik attack on foreign cyclists |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Islamic State group (IS) has said it was responsible for an attack in Tajikistan on Sunday, in which four foreign tourists were killed. | The Islamic State group (IS) has said it was responsible for an attack in Tajikistan on Sunday, in which four foreign tourists were killed. |
| Two Americans, a Swiss and a Dutch national died when a car hit them in the Danghara district, about 70km (43 miles) south-east of the capital Dushanbe. | Two Americans, a Swiss and a Dutch national died when a car hit them in the Danghara district, about 70km (43 miles) south-east of the capital Dushanbe. |
| Three other tourists were also injured. | Three other tourists were also injured. |
| This is the first time IS has claimed an attack in Tajikistan, but the group has not provided proof of its claim. | This is the first time IS has claimed an attack in Tajikistan, but the group has not provided proof of its claim. |
| Two people suspected of involvement were later killed by authorities in a special operation. Another four were arrested in the same operation and a damaged car believed to have been involved was recovered. | Two people suspected of involvement were later killed by authorities in a special operation. Another four were arrested in the same operation and a damaged car believed to have been involved was recovered. |
| A further three suspects were "rendered harmless" after being traced to a village, officials said. It is unclear exactly what this means, however, Prague-based privately-owned Tajik news website Akhbor suggested they had been killed. | A further three suspects were "rendered harmless" after being traced to a village, officials said. It is unclear exactly what this means, however, Prague-based privately-owned Tajik news website Akhbor suggested they had been killed. |
| IS later said it had carried out the attack on "citizens of the crusader coalition". | IS later said it had carried out the attack on "citizens of the crusader coalition". |
| IS efforts in Central Asia | IS efforts in Central Asia |
| By Mina Al-Lami, BBC Monitoring | By Mina Al-Lami, BBC Monitoring |
| The Islamic State group (IS) isn't known to have a presence in Tajikistan. However, the group has had members from the country, and from other Central Asian states. Tajik authorities have in the past arrested alleged IS recruiters or sympathisers. | The Islamic State group (IS) isn't known to have a presence in Tajikistan. However, the group has had members from the country, and from other Central Asian states. Tajik authorities have in the past arrested alleged IS recruiters or sympathisers. |
| In May 2015, a former member of Tajikistan's special OMON police unit, Gulmurod Khalimov, pledged allegiance to IS and migrated to territory held by the group. This was flaunted in an IS-linked video in an effort to inspire others in Tajikistan to follow his example. | In May 2015, a former member of Tajikistan's special OMON police unit, Gulmurod Khalimov, pledged allegiance to IS and migrated to territory held by the group. This was flaunted in an IS-linked video in an effort to inspire others in Tajikistan to follow his example. |
| In February 2018, IS said its attacks in Russia and former Soviet countries had entered a new phase, inciting sympathisers to attack Christians in "the Caucasus, Crimea, and Central Asia countries". | In February 2018, IS said its attacks in Russia and former Soviet countries had entered a new phase, inciting sympathisers to attack Christians in "the Caucasus, Crimea, and Central Asia countries". |
| "The current stage", said IS via its weekly newspaper al-Naba, "does not require groups with big numbers of trained fighters, nor heavy weapons. Rather, it requires a mujahid to use whatever weapon he can get his hands on" to attack. | "The current stage", said IS via its weekly newspaper al-Naba, "does not require groups with big numbers of trained fighters, nor heavy weapons. Rather, it requires a mujahid to use whatever weapon he can get his hands on" to attack. |
| Such attacks, it said, would instil fear in Christians and prompt them to leave these countries. | Such attacks, it said, would instil fear in Christians and prompt them to leave these countries. |
| An amateur video which appears to be of the same incident captures the moment a car is driven into unsuspecting cyclists. | |
| According to the minister, three of the tourists died instantly and one on the way to a nearby hospital. | According to the minister, three of the tourists died instantly and one on the way to a nearby hospital. |
| "One had knife wounds, he received medical help, now his condition is stable," Mr Rahimzoda told reporters. | "One had knife wounds, he received medical help, now his condition is stable," Mr Rahimzoda told reporters. |
| The victims were on a tour in the Central Asian country with three other tourists from France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. | The victims were on a tour in the Central Asian country with three other tourists from France, the Netherlands and Switzerland. |
| Tajikistan has struggled with poverty and instability since the former Soviet republic became independent in 1991. It had declared 2018 a "year of tourism", AFP news agency said. | Tajikistan has struggled with poverty and instability since the former Soviet republic became independent in 1991. It had declared 2018 a "year of tourism", AFP news agency said. |