Multiple explosions have been reported outside of Kabul airport in Afghanistan on Thursday, injuring at least 3 U.S. Marines, officials tell Fox News. One of the Kabul airport explosions took place outside the Baron Hotel.
JUST IN – At least 40 dead and 120 wounded, with the majority in critical condition, arriving at Kabul hospitals following the terror attacks, according to a local NYT reporter.
One of the entry gates to Kabul airport has been hit by a large explosion only hours after western intelligence agencies warned of an imminent terrorist threat.
Terrorist group ISIS-K is suspected to be responsible for the attacks.
Summary
- A suicide bombing outside the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s airport in Afghanistan Thursday injured at least three U.S. Marines, U.S. officials confirmed.
- A U.S. official indicated that the attack set off a firefight at Abbey Gate, where last night, there were 5,000 Afghans and potentially some Americans seeking access to the airport.
- A second explosion happened outside the Baron Hotel, sources say.
The blast, which was confirmed by Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Twitter appears to have occurred at the Abbey Gate into the international airport, was followed by gunfire and came as several western countries announced the end of their evacuation flights citing an acute threat of an attack possibly within hours.
One official said there are injuries among Afghans, but there is no information yet on any US casualties. Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby confirmed there was an explosion outside of the airport.
“We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can,” he said in a tweet.
Taliban condemns suicide bombing at Kabul airport
The Taliban’s spokesperson, in a tweet, says the “Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing of civilians at Kabul airport, which took place in an area where U.S. forces are responsible for security.”
“The Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan] is paying close attention to the security and protection of its people, and evil circle will be strictly stopped,” the tweet added.
How the White House is reacting to the Kabul explosions
President Biden has met with his national security team this morning, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley and commanders on the ground.
He will continue to be briefed on updates on the evolving situation throughout the day.
The Office of the Vice President also says Kamala Harris appeared by video on a 9:15 a.m. ET Situation Room meeting at the White House with President Biden. She is currently heading back to the U.S. following a diplomatic trip to Singapore and Vietnam.
A White House press briefing originally scheduled for noon ET has been delayed as changes to Biden’s schedule are being made as the events in Kabul unfold.
State Department tells Congressional staff to stop directing people to Kabul’s airport
Fox News’ Chad Pergram is told the State Department has reached out to Congressional staff with an urgent message, begging them to cease directing people to the airport in Kabul to evacuate.
Fox News has been informed that Capitol Hill staff were still sending those messages to people trying to escape Kabul this morning.
Part of the message sent by the State Department to Capitol Hill today: “All staff engaging in this type of uncoordinated messaging to people on the ground must cease due to the security situation.”
Pentagon confirms ‘US & civilian casualties’ following Kabul explosions
Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs tweeted: “We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & 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.”
Suicide bombing outside Kabul airport wounds at least 3 US Marines
A suicide bombing outside the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s airport in Afghanistan Thursday injured at least three U.S. Marines, U.S. officials confirmed.
A U.S. official indicated that the attack set off a firefight at Abbey Gate, where last night, there were 5,000 Afghans and potentially some Americans seeking access to the airport.
The bombing comes hours after the State Department warned Americans outside the gates of the Kabul airport to “leave immediately” due to the increasing terrorist threat.
At least 3 U.S. Marines have been wounded in the explosion outside Kabul’s airport, officials tell Fox News’ Lucas Tomlinson.
US Embassy in Afghanistan issues new security warning
The U.S. embassy in Afghanistan has just issued a new warning that “U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time.”
“There has been a large explosion at the airport, and there are reports of gunfire,” the alert said. “U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately.”
Kabul airport explosion described as ‘complex attack’
Capitol Hill sources tell Fox News’ Chad Pergram that the explosion happened outside Kabul’s airport after someone detonated a suicide vest.
Then a gunfight erupted. All airport gates processing evacuees are now closed and sources describe the incident as a “complex attack”.
President Biden briefed about Kabul airport explosions
US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the explosion at Kabul airport, Reuters is reporting a White House official as saying.
President Biden is currently in the Situation Room, a White House official says. He was briefed on the situation in Afghanistan.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are with him.
Moments ago, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby tweeted that an explosion near the Abbey Gate at Kabul’s airport has resulted in an “unknown number of casualties.” According to initial reports, there are some US personnel among the wounded, according to three US officials and a source familiar with the situation.
The warning had been delivered by several countries including the UK. Afghans gathering to try to gain access to Kabul’s Hamid Karzai international airport were told to leave immediately and move to a safe place, even as the evacuation appeared to be rapidly coming to an end.
According to initial reports there appeared to be Afghan casualties from the explosion close to where people hoping to flee were queueing for visa processing but none among western forces.
British defence sources in the UK said they were aware of the incident. It did not look like there were any military casualties, on the initial reports coming through, but the impact on civilians was not immediately known.
Explosion reported outside Kabul airport
There was an explosion outside the Abbey Gate at Kabul airport, U.S. officials confirm to Fox News.
It’s not clear how many people are potentially injured or killed.
Last night, there were 5,000 Afghans and potentially some Americans outside Abbey Gate at the airport.
This explosion, again, it’s unclear how big, comes hours after the State Department warned Americans outside the gates of the Kabul airport to “leave immediately” due to the increasing terrorist threat.
Crowded conditions as evacuees processed in Qatar
Fox News has obtained images showing crowded conditions as evacuees from Afghanistan are being processed in Qatar.
A revealing thread here from the PBS reporter Jane Ferguson. Many people waiting at Hamid Karzai international airport are those with special immigrant visas in process with the US. It is unlikely they will make it out and many are in real danger.
Several countries 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.
Over the last week, the airport has been the scene of some of the most searing images of the chaotic end of America’s longest war and the Taliban’s takeover, as flight after flight took off carrying those who fear a return to the militants’ brutal rule.
(Sources: Fox News, The Guardian, CNN, The Associated Press)
This is a developing story
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