India: Tourists attacked in Kashmir, at least 26 dead
Modi: 'An atrocious act'. The region has been at the centre of tensions between New Delhi, Islamabad and a section of the local population for decades. Trump calls Indian PM
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From our correspondent
NEW DELHI - At least 26 tourists were killed in an attack in the Indian territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, in the bloodiest attack against civilians in the region for many years. According to the local police, among the victims was one foreigner, a Nepalese citizen. Rumours that there was also an Italian victim have not been confirmed. Seventeen people were injured, some of them in serious condition.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who interrupted a state trip to Saudi Arabia to return home, called the attack 'a heinous act' and promised that 'those responsible will be brought to justice'. US Vice President JD Vance, who is currently travelling in India and met with Modi himself on Monday, called the attack 'a devastating terrorist attack'. US President Donald Trump called Modi to express his sympathy and called the news from India 'deeply disturbing'.
"A cowardly attack on tourists"
.The attack took place 5 kilometres from Pahalgam, south of the summer capital of Srinagar. According to initial reconstructions, at least four gunmen allegedly targeted a group of tourists in a meadow surrounded by woods and snow-capped peaks, in a secluded area of one of the most picturesque localities in the region.
"This is a much bigger attack than any action taken against the civilian population in recent years," commented Omar Abdullah, the chief minister of the Jammu and Kashmir territory. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, an independence leader called the operation 'a cowardly attack on tourists'. The Indian security forces pointed the finger at 'anti-Indian militants', but without mentioning the only claim that came from a small local formation.
