A man signs a condolence book at the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, for the four bicyclists killed in a terrorist attack on July 29, 2018. An American couple and Swiss and Dutch citizens were killed in the assault on a popular cycling route about 100 kilometers (60 miles) south of the capital.
For a group of seven international cyclists, the trip through breathtaking Tajikistan following a section of the ancient Silk Road was a dream come true. But that dream turned into a nightmare July 29, when, in a deliberate act, a dark sedan smashed through the group. The men inside got out and attacked the cyclists with knives. Four of the tourists — an American couple, a Swiss citizen and a Dutch national — were killed; the others — one Swiss, one Dutch and one French — were injured. On July 30, the Islamic State claimed responsibility for the assault through its Amaq news service. In a statement, it said the attackers "were soldiers of the Islamic State and carried out the attack in response to calls to target the citizens of the coalition countries.
