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Kabul airport explosion – Huge blast and gunfire outside Afghanistan airport as thousands try to flee Taliban
AN explosion has taken place outside Afghanistan's Kabul airport where thousands of people were waiting to be evacuated.
A US official confirmed the blast was caused by a suicide bomb at Abbey Gate, with at least three US troops reported to have been injured.
The blast comes just hours after UK and the US warned citizens to leave the area and seek shelter elsewhere amid fears of terrorist activity in the area.
But thousands of desperate Afghans remained at the airport, hoping to make their way on flights leaving the country and escaping the Taliban.
The explosion took place near the Baron hotel outside the airport, according to Sky News – which is where British troops and journalists have been staying.
Read our Kabul explosion live blog for the latest updates…
- Milica Cosic
US OFFICIAL SAYS INITIAL CASUALTY NUMBERS EXPECTED TO INCREASE
A US official has claimed that that US casualty numbers are expected to increase.
Reports have so-far suggested there were no UK fatalities in an explosion at the Abbey Gate near the Baron Hotel.
Details of this however yet remain unconfirmed.
- Milica Cosic
US EMBASSY ISSUES WARNING
The U.S. Embassy has issued an alert telling U.S. citizens to "avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates," following an explosion outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul.
- Milica Cosic
NUMBER OF CASUALTIES STILL UNKNOWN
Pentagon press secretary says there is an "unknown number of casualties".
- Milica Cosic
TWO EXPLOSIONS CONFIRMED
Deputy Political Editor for Sky News, Sam Coates, confirms Deborah Haynes has been: "told by defence sources there were indeed two explosions – one by the Baron’s hotel, the UK gathering point and another on the canal road by Abbey Gate."
- Milica Cosic
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN BRIEFED OF ATTACK
US President Joe Biden had been briefed on the attack at Kabul airport.
It has emerged that Biden was told about the incident during a meeting with security officials about the situation in Afghanistan.
- Milica Cosic
GERMAN PLANES LEFT
A security source has told Reuters news agency that the last German military planes have left Kabul, completing the German evacuation operation.
- Milica Cosic
DISTRESSING IMAGES SHARED ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Warning of graphic images.
Afghanistan's are being warned to stay clear of Kabul airport and its surroundings.
- Milica Cosic
SITUATION UPDATE
The blast carnage at the airport comes as…
- Hours before UK government warned Kabul Airport faced ‘imminent, highly lethal’ attack
- Desperate Afghans were told ‘forget airport and run for border’ to flee from Taliban
- Ex-Marine Pen Farthing and his 200 animals were blocked from airport by Taliban
- Taliban took a US Black Hawk helicopter for joy ride after seizing 200,000 firearms
A UK GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON ESTABLISHING IMPACT AND EVACUATION EFFORTS
A UK government spokesperson said: "We are working urgently to establish what has happened and its impact on the ongoing evacuation effort.
"Our primary concern remains the safety of our personnel, British citizens and the citizens of Afghanistan.
"We are in close contact with our US and other NATO allies at an operational level on the immediate response to this incident."
- Milica Cosic
EYEWITNESSES REPORT
Eyewitnesses said US troops and dozens of civilians were among those hurt in the carnage on the southern side of the airport, where thousands of people have massed over the past 12 days hoping to be evacuated after the Taliban seized power.
It is not know if there were any British citizens in the crowd.
- Milica Cosic
AT LEAST TWO ATTACKERS INVOLVED
Afghan journalist Bilal Sarwary was evacuated from the country a few days ago butsays that the explosion at Kabul airport occurred in a sewage canal where Afghan refugees were having their visa documents vetted.
He reports that a suicide bomber detonated his explosives in the crowd of people before a second attacker started opening fire.
- Milica Cosic
ABC NEWS CHIEF GLOBAL AFFAIRS CORRESPONDENT COMMENTS
Martha Raddatz has commented saying: "this is truly a nightmare scenario,"amid the explosion outside Kabul airport.
- Milica Cosic
SEVERAL WOUNDED AND TAKEN TO HOSPITAL
Reports of several people wounded in the blast close to Kabul airport.
All have been taken to an Emergency Hospital.
- Milica Cosic
REUTERS REPORTS AT LEAST 13 KILLED IN EXPLOSION, INCLUDING CHILDREN
A Taliban official has spoken to Reuters news agency, telling them that at least 13 people have been killed in the explosion outside Kabul airport.
Amongst those killed are children and many Taliban guards have been wounded, the spokesperson said.
- Milica Cosic
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE PUBLISH STATEMENT ON THEIR TWITTER
MoD writes they are urgently working to establish what happened and safety of all remains the upmost concern.
- Milica Cosic
AMBASSADOR WARNS 'SECOND EXPLOSION IS POSSIBLE' OUTSIDE AIRPORT
The French ambassador to Afghanistan has warned Afghans near the gates to the airport to stay away and take shelter.
There are fears of a second attack.
- Milica Cosic
PHOTOS CONTINUE TO SHOW DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF BLAST
- Milica Cosic
NUMBER OF CASUALTIES
Staff foreign correspondent in the Middle East for the LA Times, Nabih Bulos, reportedly reports of 11 casualties in Abbey gate explosion.
Nabih is situated in Kandahar.
- Milica Cosic
EYEWITNESSES GIVE REPORT ON EXPLOSION
- Milica Cosic
REPORTS OF TWO EXPLOSIONS WHICH TOOK PLACE OUTSIDE KABUL AIRPORT
The Turkish defence ministry say that two explosions took place outside Kabul airport.
It has been added there was no damage to Turkish units.
- Milica Cosic
SKY NEWS REPORT UP TO THREE US TROOPS MAY HAVE BEEN INJURED IN BLAST
Sky News have reported that there may be three US troops that have been injured in the blast.
There is an initial indication to suggest that British troops are not among the casualties.
Foreign affairs editor Deborah Haynes says sources have told her the initial indications suggest British troops have not been caught up among the casualties.
- Milica Cosic
NUMBER OF CASUALTIES UNCLEAR, PENTAGON SAYS
White House secretarypress secretary said the number of casualties remains unclear.
The White House says President Joe Biden has been briefed on the explosion.
- Milica Cosic
HORRIFYING PICTURES SHARED OF CROWD AFTER ATTACK
- Milica Cosic
MOD GIVE STATEMENT
- Milica Cosic
MINISTER WARNED OF ‘LETHAL’ AIRPORT ATTACK EARLIER TODAY
James Heappey said: "I can't stress the desperation of the situation enough – the threat is credible, it is imminent, it is lethal."
There is "credible reporting" an ISIS splinter group operating in Afghanistan called ISIS-K are believed to be targeting the airport.
Mr Heappey said an attack could come within "hours" – and revealed he had been prepped with media lines in case a bomb went off mid-interview.
Brits and Afghans desperate to flee the Taliban on RAF flights are being begged not to come to the airport – and instead find safety.
The Minister said: "We wouldn't be saying this if we weren't genuinely concerned about offering Islamic State a target that is unimaginable."
Eleven flights were due to leave Kabul airport today, but it is now unknown whether they will take flight at all.
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