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IS claims fatal Tajik attack on foreign cyclists Tajikistan attack on foreign cyclists blamed on Islamist party
(about 14 hours 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. Tajikistan has blamed a banned Islamist party for an attack on Sunday in which four foreign cyclists 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. Officials said the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) was behind the attack, citing what they said was the confession of one arrested suspect.
Three other tourists were also injured. Two Americans, a Swiss and a Dutch national died when a car hit them in the Danghara district, 70km (43 miles) south-east of the capital Dushanbe. The attackers then stabbed their victims.
This is the first time IS has claimed an attack in Tajikistan, but the group has not provided proof of its claim. Two other foreigners were injured.
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. The Islamic State (IS) group had earlier said it was behind Sunday's attack.
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. Four suspects were later killed by authorities in a special operation, Tajikistan's interior ministry said.
IS later said it had carried out the attack on "citizens of the crusader coalition". Another four were arrested, and a damaged car believed to have been involved was recovered.
Exiled leaders of the IRPT denied any link to the attack, saying the authorities were trying to use the incident for political purposes, Reuters reports.
Tajikistan's government banned the IRPT in 2015, accusing it of planning a coup.
On Monday, the IS group said it was behind Sunday's attack and that it was carried out "in response to calls to target citizens of coalition countries".
It provided no evidence to back its claim.
IS efforts in Central AsiaIS efforts in Central Asia
By Mina Al-Lami, BBC MonitoringBy 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 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. An amateur video which appears to be of the attack 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 Tajikistan's interior 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," Ramazon Hamro 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.