As many as 10 U.S. servicemen – including four Marines – are thought to have died in two bomb attacks outside Kabul airport on Thursday, while reports suggest a third explosion has been heard in the capital tonight.
Jihadist splinter group ISIS-K are believed to be behind the two earlier blasts outside the gates of Kabul airport, where thousands of Afghans were awaiting evacuation.
Reports from the U.S. suggest as many as 10 U.S. service personnel are among the 60 thought to have died in the attacks. U.S. officials have today confirmed a ‘number’ of U.S. forces personnel have died in the attacks. UK defence officials say they do not believe any British troops have been killed.
It comes as reports on the ground suggest a third blast has taken place in Kabul tonight. Reporters say the blast was heard near to the airport this evening. No officials have yet been released.
The disaster – which comes after warnings by US and UK officials of an ‘imminent’ terror attack – could now spark an immediate to the West’s frantic evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.
A timeline of the Kabul airport attack
Around 3.30am Afghan local time: The US issues a warning telling its citizens not to come to Kabul airport unless specifically told to. Crowds outside the airport are told to disperse ‘immediately’ due to the threat of a terror attack.
1.30pm: The UK’s Armed Forces minister James Heappey, during a round of TV interviews in the UK, admits an attack by terror group ISIS-K is ‘imminent’.
5.30pm: Panic erupts among crowds outside Kabul airport as gunshots are heard. Initial reports suggest the shots were fired at an Italian C-130 plane as it took off from the airport. However intelligence reports later suggest the shots were fired into the air in an attempt to disperse the crowds.
6.15pm: A suicide bomb is detonated outside the Baron Hotel near to Kabul Airport. The hotel has been housing Western journalists. It has also been used as a staging post by western nations for evacuation. The blast is reportedly followed by small arms gunfire.
6.20pm: The Pentagon confirms the first blast. The Taliban immediately confirm a number of deaths.
7.30pm: The Pentagon confirms a second bomb has been detonated this time outside the Abbey Gate – a British controlled access point to Kabul airport. It is believed the blast took place in open access sewers where Afghan evacuees were yesterday seen waiting to be processed.
7.35pm: The two blasts are confirmed by Western officials. At least 13 people are confirmed to have died, many more are thought to have been injured. Officials say the attacks were likely carried out by terrorist group ISIS-K.
9.15pm: The Taliban condemns the terrorist attacks. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says his group ‘strongly condemns’ the bombings and is paying close attention to security. The group say the death toll may be as high as 40 people. Reports suggest four US Marines have died in the attacks.
*Times are all based on local time in Afghanistan
NATO countries, including Denmark, have already stopped their evacuation efforts this evening, while the gates to the airport have now been sealed by US troops in the aftermath.
However Boris Johnson, who this evening chaired an emergency COBRA meeting at Downing Street, insisted the UK will continue its evacuation flights. UK officials earlier today said there were a dozen evacuation flights still scheduled to leave Kabul.
It comes after as the Taliban say as many as 60 people, including children, were killed in two separate explosions near Kabul airport today – just hours after warnings of an ‘imminent’ and ‘lethal’ ISIS terror attack.
The first blast was set off by a suicide bomber outside the Barons Hotel where British troops, journalists and UN officials have been staying during frantic evacuation mission by Western forces.
It was then followed by gunfire and mass panic before a second explosion ripped through a crowd of Afghans gathered at the Abbey Gate of the Hamid Karzai airport.
Western officials say at least 13 people have died in the attacks, though the Taliban, who this evening condemned the ‘evil’ attacks, say at least 40 people could have died.
It is believed at least four US Marines are among those to have been killed. The Pentagon today confirmed that ‘a number’ of US service members had been killed, though they did not release any further details.
However, in a press conference this evening, Mr Johnson said the attacks would not stop the UK’s evacuation mission. He said: ‘It is not going to interrupt our progress, we are going to get on with this evacuation.’
‘There were always going to vulnerabilities to terrorism and opportunistic terrorist attacks, we condemn them, I think they are despicable, but I am afraid they are something we had to prepare for.’
Images from the scene show scores of bodies piled up on the streets and bloodied people being carried away in wheelbarrows, with one emergency hospital treating 60 wounded people after six died on their way there.
An Afghan man queuing to enter the airport said the explosion hit the middle of a crowd of thousands, and he saw many injured and maimed people near where US troops were stationed.
An Afghan translator, named only as ‘Carl’, who witnessed the attacks, said a baby girl died in his arms after trying to save her when spotting her on the ground.
A US official said ISIS-K, a splinter of the terror group who are the sworn enemy of the Taliban, are ‘definitely believed’ to have carried out the attack.
Many had feared an attack could derail the evacuations, with the airport a likely target with crowds rushing to escape and many Western troops stationed at the transport hub.
Pentagon Spokesman John Kirby said: ‘We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US and civilian casualties.
‘We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update.’
In a later statement, he added: ‘We can confirm that a number of US service personnel were killed in today’s complex attack at Kabul airport. A number of others are being treated for wounds.
‘We also know a number of Afghans fell victim to this heinous attack. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and injured.’
A Number 10 spokesman said Boris Johnson has been updated on the situation. The Prime Minister chaired a COBRA meeting this evening, while Joe Biden is in the Situation Room.
Emmanuel Macron said he may struggle to evacuate 20 buses with French citizens on board at the airport gate and says he is in negotiation with the Taliban to secure their release.
Meanwhile, Norway became the first country to officially halt its evacuation plans, with Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soereide telling Norwegian broadcaster TV2: “The doors at the airport are now closed and it is no longer possible to get people in.’
MailOnline