At least 13 people, including children, have reportedly been killed in an apparent suicide attack outside the airport in Afghanistan’s capital on Thursday. US troops have been injured as well.
US Department of Defense Press Secretary John Kirby has confirmed the “complex attack” has “resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties”.
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.
The two explosions took place just outside Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul: one was at the airport’s Abby Gate, the other near the Baron hotel.
Images released from the area have shown bloodied Afghans rushing injured parties in wheelbarrows.
#Kabul Explosion outside Airport. pic.twitter.com/HdY9ZrP4jd
Reuters cited an unnamed US official claiming that initial reports suggest the blast is believed to have been caused by a suicide bomber. Up to three US troops may have been injured as well. A Taliban spokesman also told Reuters that the attack killed at least 13 people outside the airport, including children, and injured many others. Taliban guards were among those who were hurt by the blast, the official said.
Confirmation of the explosion follows officials warning that the airport could be a potential target for an attack as thousands have journeyed there in an effort to catch an evacuation flight.
“The longer we stay, starting with the acute and growing risk of an attack by a terrorist group known as ISIS-K, an ISIS affiliate in Afghanistan – which is the sworn enemy of the Taliban as well – every day we’re on the ground is another day we know that ISIS-K is seeking to target the airport and attack both US and Allied forces and innocent civilians,” US President Joe Biden warned this week.
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