Explosion at Kabul airport confirmed by Pentagon
One of the entry gates to Kabul airport has been hit with a large explosion mere hours after western intelligence agencies warned of impending terrorist attacks.
UPDATE: Kabul airport explosion: Taliban say 13 killed in Afghanistan evacuation site blast
The explosion was said to have occurred near the Baron hotel, where British troops and journalists have been staying.
Reports from the scene suggest that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber blowing himself up in a canalway, but that has not been confirmed.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has stated that the attack was a suicide bombing and that at least two people were killed and 15 wounded.
The US Embassy has issued an alert telling US Citizens to “avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates”.
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NEW: The U.S. Embassy issues 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. https://t.co/uvs7iuqxn4 pic.twitter.com/kmsyJo7JCf
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 26, 2021
The Guardian’s Dan Sabbagh tweeted:
https://twitter.com/dansabbagh/status/1430898613429751815
An unnamed official has also told Reuters that US service members are among those injured in the blast”
BREAKING: At least 3 U.S. troops wounded in suicide bombing outside Abbey Gate at Kabul airport: U.S. officials
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 26, 2021
Contacts from Sky News’s Stuart Ramsey have said the attack took place in the canal running alongside the main road approaching the airport.
BREAKING: The Pentagon confirms there was an explosion outside of Kabul airport in Afghanistan. Casualties are unclear at this time. pic.twitter.com/IXAbk3GNea
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 26, 2021
The explosion was confirmed by Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Twitter:
We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can.
— Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
“We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can,” he tweeted.
The explosion reportedly hit the Abbey Gate at Kabul airport and was followed by the sound of gunfire. Numerous western countries announced the end of evacuation flights due to the imminent attacks.
Evacuation operations in Kabul will not be wrapping up in 36 hours. We will continue to evacuate as many people as we can until the end of the mission. #HKIA
— Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
“British defence sources believe there are no military casualties following the explosion near the Baron hotel – impact on civilians not yet clear,” tweeted Dan Sabbagh, the Guardian’s defence and security editor.
“I was on the phone to an Afghan outside the airport when he heard the explosion. Praying that he gets away safely and we get his family safe passage out of this nightmare,” tweeted the Tory MP for Wealden, Nus Ghani.
Explosion at Kabul airport.
I was on the phone to an Afghan outside the airport when he heard the explosion.
Praying that he gets away safely and we get his family safe passage out of this nightmare. https://t.co/hLZIURQozp— Nus Ghani MP (@Nus_Ghani) August 26, 2021
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the explosion at Kabul airport, Reuters is reporting.
Though exact numbers are yet to be revealed, numerous sources suggest that the explosion has caused multiple deaths.
#काबुल एयरपोर्ट के गेट पर बम धमाका, कइयों का हताहत होने की ख़बर#Afghanistan #AfghanistanCrisis #Kabulairport #TalibanIslamistTerrorBack pic.twitter.com/fRTOkfGi2i
— Durg Singh Rajpurohit (@BarmerDurg) August 26, 2021
This is an evolving story…
