Afghanistan: There were two explosions outside Kabul airport | At least 15 people died

At least 15 people were killed and 60 others injured in two explosions outside Kabul airport, where thousands of Afghan citizens were crammed into trying to leave the country on international evacuation flights before the August 31 deadline. The United States and the United Kingdom had warned that there was a “high terrorist threat” at the site.

According to local Afghan media citing hospital sources, “at least 15 people” died in the two attacks and more than 60 were injured. “About 60 patients injured in the airport attack have reached our medical center,” Italian NGO Emergency, which has a hospital in Kabul, reported on Twitter.

The main spokesperson for the Taliban, Zabihulla Mujahid, also said that more than 50 people were injured and taken to the nearest hospitals.

The first of the explosions It took place at 6:24 p.m. in Kabul, (13:58 GMT) near one of the gates of Kabul airport, according to the Afghan news network Ariana News.

Local media have published images of where several lifeless bodies can be seen, as well as the injured being transferred to hospitals, after which they claim that at least the first was a high-powered explosion.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that there are Americans among the victims in a “complex attack” of two explosions.

According to the spokesperson, one of the explosions occurred near the Baron Hotel in the Afghan capital, near the airfield abbey gate, where the other detonation occurred.

It would be the first attack to take place in the Afghan capital since the Taliban took control of the country on August 15.

For the time being The perpetrator or the characteristics of the attack are unknown, although suspicions surround the Isis-K group (an Afghan split from the Islamic State).

“I strongly condemn the terrorist attack at Kabul airport which killed and injured a large number of civilians. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families in these difficult times,” lamented the President of the Council for the national reconciliation, Abdullah Abdullah. .

This event occurs during Thousands of Afghans were on the outskirts of Kabul airport in an attempt to flee of the country on international evacuation flights.

On Wednesday, the US embassy in Afghanistan issued a notice warning Americans not to approach Kabul airport due to “security threats” outside of access to these facilities.

The priority is to evacuate

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Allied forces were to continue to evacuate as many people as possible from Kabul. “I strongly condemn this horrific terrorist attack. Our priority remains to evacuate as many people as possible to safety as quickly as possible,” Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter after the two attacks.

The attacks come days before the August 31 deadline for U.S. troops to leave the airport and allies to complete their evacuation efforts.

Belgium and the Netherlands have already completed their rescue operations and other countries will follow in the hours and days to come, despite the risk of leaving people in distress behind.

Kabul airport bombing warning

In the last hours, US, UK and Australia warned of “high terrorist threat” at airport. Although the place is under American control, the surroundings are patrolled by Taliban troops.

“Do not go to Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul,” the British Foreign Office wrote on its website Wednesday evening.

“There is a high and permanent threat of terrorist attack ”, he stressed, while thousands of Afghans still crowd around the airport in an attempt to flee the country which has fallen into the hands of the Taliban.

“If you are in the airport area, leave it in a safe place and wait for further instructions,” added British diplomacy. “If you can leave Afghanistan by other safe means, do so immediately.”