29-year-old Jay Austin (Austin Jay) and Lauren Hagan (Lauren Geoghegan) was among four people killed during attacks on cyclists in Tajikistan on Sunday. Two young Washington residents last year left the job to travel all over the whole world. The Ministry of internal Affairs of Tajikistan blamed for the deaths of foreigners , the Islamic Renaissance Party of Dagestan (IRPT).
The attack took place in the countryside South of the capital Dushanbe. The attackers rammed the cyclists by car and then attacked them with knives. Renee Woke from the Netherlands and Markus Hummel from Switzerland were also killed, according to the Tajik authorities.
Austin and GAGAN called himself in his blog, «Americans katusiime around the world.» Hagen until that time was an avid cyclist, Austin is also well-traveled. They told us that decided to travel the world on wheels, «because life is short and the world is big, and we want to use our youth and good health before they disappear».
Cyclists made their way through the popular and picturesque area in the Dangara region, about 60 miles South of the capital of Tajikistan, Dushanbe. Close to the Afghan border region has long attracted foreign tourists looking for adventure.
A few days before the murder, Austin was described Tajikistan as «a difficult place to travel by bike». «It’s cold, windy and, most importantly, very, very high,» he wrote. «Lauren has difficulties with staying on top».
Austin was born in new York and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree at Georgetown University. After graduation, he joined the Department of housing and urban development, where he worked seven years, according to his mother.
«He had a good heart, he cared about the world and gone to a better place, not leaving a trace», she said in an interview on Tuesday. Austin was regularly updated his blog in Instagram, which, according to his mother, showed his passion for travel.
Hagan, graduated in 2010 University in Georgetown, where she specialized in the study of public administration and studied Spanish and Arabic. She worked in the admissions office of Georgetown, while she and Austin began their adventure.
Reggie Greer, who met with Hagan when she was a sophomore in Georgetown, called it one of the most «thoughtful» people he knew. «She asked— he remembered — really made us think. She was unique».
The State Department condemned the «senseless attack on cyclists,» adding that Washington is ready to help in the international investigation.
«There is strong evidence that the attack was directed against ISIS, the first such attack on foreigners on the part of ISIS in the region, and it is therefore critical that Tajik authorities reliably, thoroughly and professionally investigated,» said Steve Swerdlow, Human Rights Watch staff member. «In the stories told by the government, which accuses the IRPT in the attack, something doesn’t add up».
Austin and GAGAN planned to continue their journey, although they had no established route. Earlier this summer, they wrote, intend to continue to travel by bike.
