Two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport on Thursday which killed more than 100 people, including 13 US troops. The Islamic State group (ISIS) claimed responsibility of the Kabul airport suicide attack.
Kabul, India, August 27 : More than 100 people were killed, including 13 US troops and over 150 were wounded when two suicide bombers and gunmen attacked crowds of Afghans flocking to Kabul’s airport. The blasts came hours after Western officials warned of a major attack, urging people to leave the airport. Near about 5,000 people were awaiting flights on the airfield.
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The Islamic State group claimed responsibility of the Kabul airport suicide attack. The IS affiliate in Afghanistan is far more radical than the Taliban, who recently took control of the country in a lightning blitz. The Taliban were not believed to have been involved in the attacks and condemned the blasts, according to AP reports.
One of the bombers struck people standing knee-deep in a wastewater canal under the sweltering sun, throwing bodies into the fetid water. The second blast was at or near Baron Hotel, where many people, including Afghans, Britons and Americans, were told to gather in recent days before heading to the airport for evacuation.
Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden has vowed to “hunt” down the terrorists and make them “pay” for the deadly attacks outside the Kabul airport. “To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm notice, we will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay. I will defend our interests and our people with every measure at my command,” Biden told reporters at the White House on Thursday.
US flight carrying 400 evacuees arrives in Spain
A US military aircraft has flown around 400 people evacuated from Afghanistan to the navy base of Rota, in southern Spain — the first group of up to 4,000 people expected there. The flight landed at 9:40 am local time on Friday, a statement from the US embassy in Spain said. US officials, American and Spanish soldiers, Red Cross workers and base volunteers are in charge of processing the arrivals.
Kabul airport suicide attack death toll: At least 95 Afghans killed in Thursday’s bombings
An official says at least 95 Afghans were killed in Thursday’s suicide bombings outside Kabul’s international airport. The official said the actual death toll is even higher because others were involved in evacuating bodies.
UK enters final stage of evacuation at Kabul airport
The UK has entered the final stage of its Afghanistan evacuation operation. The UK is closing its evacuation handling centre in Kabul and no more people will be called forward to the airport to leave, the Ministry of Defence says. “It is with deep regret that not everyone has been able to be evacuated during this process,” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said.
