60 killed as twin blasts hit Kabul airport, US suspects role of ISIS
Kabul, Aug. 26: Two suicide bombers and gunmen targeted crowds massing near Kabul airport Thursday, in the waning days of a massive airlift that has drawn thousands of people seeking to flee the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. At least 60 people were killed and scores more injured, Afghan health officials said, the BBC reported, as many bodies started arriving at hospitals in the Afghan capital.
Earlier, Russian officials had said 13 people were killed. A US official said the complex attack was “definitely believed” to have been carried out by the Islamic State (ISIS) group, whose affiliate in Afghanistan grew out of disaffected Taliban members who hold an even more extreme view of Islam.
The explosions took place outside the Abbey Gate, where US and British forces are stationed, and at a nearby hotel, the BBC said. Several US military personnel, including at least 11 US Marines, are believed to be among the dead. Earlier, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby had also confirmed the blasts, saying one was near an airport entrance and another was at a hotel a short distance away.
Even as the area was hit, the official said evacuation flights continued to take off from Kabul airport, which Western governments earlier warned was a target. One explosion went off in a crowd of people waiting to enter the airport, according to Adam Khan, an Afghan waiting nearby. He said several people appeared to have been killed or wounded, including some who lost body parts.
The Taliban condemned the attack, saying it happened it an area that was controlled by US forces.
Several countries had urged people to avoid the airport earlier in the day, with one saying there was a threat of a suicide bombing. But just days — or even hours for some
nations — before the evacuation effort ends, few appeared to heed the call.
Overnight, warnings emerged from Western capitals about a threat from Afghanistan’s ISIS affiliate, which likely has seen its ranks boosted by the Taliban’s freeing of prisoners during their blitz across the country. British armed forces minister James Heappey told the BBC early Thursday there was “very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack” at the airport, possibly within “hours.” Belgian PM Alexander De Croo said his country had got information from the US and other countries on the “threat of suicide attacks on the mass of people.” The acting US ambassador to Kabul, Ross Wilson, said the security threat at the Kabul airport overnight was “clearly regarded as credible, as imminent, as compelling.” But in an interview with ABC News, he would not give details and did not say whether the threat remained. A while later, the blast was reported. US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the explosion, the White House says.
Late Wednesday, the US embassy warned citizens at three airport gates to leave immediately due to an unspecified security threat. Australia, Britain and New Zealand also advised their citizens
Thursday not to go to the airport, with Australia’s foreign minister saying there was a “very high threat of a terrorist attack”.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid denied any attack was imminent in the wake of those warnings. Earlier Thursday, the Taliban sprayed a water cannon at those gathered at one airport gate to try to drive the crowd away, as someone launched tear gas canisters elsewhere.
Though several countries said they will wind up evacuation operations on Friday, the Pentagon spokesman said the US would continue with its flights till August 31.