UK troops: We missed Kabul bomb blast by a matter of feet
BrItIsH troops were saved from almost certain death in the Kabul suicide attack by an 11th-hour decision, commanders revealed last night.
Based on intelligence about a threat from Isis-K fanatics, uK paratroopers were moved back a short distance which meant they avoided last week’s airport blast by a matter of feet, while 13 us troops patrolling the same area were among the 182 killed.
Moments after surviving the attack at the abbey Gate, British soldiers were able to form a protective cordon around the us Marines and rescue injured children.
In his first interview since arriving back in the uK, Brigadier James Martin, the Commanding Officer of 16 air assault Brigade, said: ‘We were aware there was a credible threat and we had taken steps the previous evening to create a greater standoff between where a suicide bomber might appear and our people and civilians.
‘I think that undoubtedly put us in a good position. I also think, ultimately, it saved lives. there is a degree of serendipity about this, that none of our people got hurt, but I mean, we are talking by feet. I imagine for some of our people, that is quite difficult to deal with.’
Brigadier Martin, one of the most decorated officers in the British army, was humbled by the response of his soldiers.
‘We heard the bang and about three seconds later we felt the sting and that very distinctive smell of Cs gas which hit us as the blast had vaporized some of the us stocks of Cs,’ he said.
‘and then very quickly the gates were open, we were bringing in injured women and children. Our soldiers were running towards the explosion to provide first aid, explosive ordinance disposal support to our american brethren and to provide them with security to evacuate their wounded.
‘When the bomb went off and shots were fired – they weren’t necessarily fired by the enemy – our people ran towards the sound of the gunfire. I am exceptionally proud of how they undertook their duties that day.’
In the days before the attack, us aircraft circling over Kabul intercepted electronic messages about a suicide bomber targeting crowds and Western troops at the airport.
Lieutenant Colonel david Middleton, the Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion, the Parachute regiment (2 Para) said: ‘We were very close to the explosion. We had, based on the intelligence beforehand, moved back to a more contained area. so if you looked at where our forces were laid out 24 hours earlier it would have been far more exposed.
‘We knew the threat was there. We did our best to mitigate it.’
the troops – some only 18 or 19 – are now being offered counselling to cope with what Lt Col Middleton described as the ‘visceral’ experience of the explosion and processing evacuees.
‘What young soldiers, male, female, different cap badges, different colours, different creeds did, to save lives was really humbling,’ he added.
details of the uK’s response to warnings of an attack come after a ‘blame game’ over whether the blast could have been prevented. according to reports earlier this week, us commanders wanted to close the abbey Gate – where thousands of desperate evacuees were queuing – hours before the terrorist struck.
reports suggested they were persuaded by their British counterparts to keep it open, a move which made us troops more vulnerable. the claims were denied by Boris Johnson and Foreign secretary dominic raab but put more strain on the uK’s relationship with the us.
Prince Charles, Colonel-inChief of the Parachute regiment, has hailed the regiment as an ‘outstanding credit to the country’, expressing admiration and pride in its effort to lead the evacuation effort in Kabul.
‘That decision saved lives’