Kabul Airport Blast news updates: Merkel calls attack 'heinous'; full-fledged crisis, says US Senator

Merkel condemns attack

German chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday called the attack on Kabul airport “heinous”.  “We don’t know all the details yet but the terrorists targeted people waiting at the airport gates who were hoping to leave,” Merkel said. “They wanted security and freedom and that is why it is an absolutely heinous attack in a very, very tense situation.”

Centre feared ISIS attack: Sources

Government sources told CNN-News18 that in the all-party meeting held today, the Indian government had said they feared an ISIS attack on Kabul airport.

Full fledged crisis, says US Senator 

Senator Robert Menendez, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, in a statement called the situation unfolding in Kabul “a full-fledged humanitarian crisis.”

He said that “US government personnel, already working under extreme circumstances, must secure the airport and complete the massive evacuation of Americans citizens and vulnerable Afghans desperately trying to leave the country.”

“I understand that American personnel were among the casualties and my prayers are with the victims of this cowardly attack and their families,” Menendez said. “As we wait for more details to come in, one thing is clear: We can’t trust the Taliban with Americans’ security.”

Taliban condemns bombing outside Kabul airport 

The Taliban condemned deadly blasts outside Kabul airport on Thursday, in an area they said was under the control of US military. “The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the bombing targeting civilians at Kabul airport,” a statement released by the group’s spokesman on Twitter said. “The explosion took place in an area where US forces are responsible for security.”

At least 52 injured in twin blasts, says Taliban 

At least 52 people were wounded in the blast near Baron Hotel and at Abbey Gate in Kabul airport, said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Taliban.

UK govt to hold crisis meeting after Kabul airport explosion

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday convened crisis talks after a large explosion at Kabul airport, his office announced. A Downing Street spokesperson said Johnson had been “updated on the situation at the airport in Kabul” and called a meeting of the COBR emergencies committee for later Thursday.

The Ministry of Defence later said on Twitter that “there have been no reported UK military or UK government casualties following the incidents in Kabul.

‘Horrific terrorist attack’ says NATO chief after twin bombings kill 13

NATO chief has condemned the twin suicide bombings at the Kabul airport as a “horrific terrorist attack” that targeted desperate Afghans trying to leave the country and the alliance’s efforts to evacuate them from Afghanistan.

Jens Stoltenberg tweeted after the explosions on Thursday: “I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack outside Kabul airport. My thoughts are with all those affected and their loved ones. Our priority remains to evacuate as many people to safety as quickly as possible.”

France seeks to evacuate ‘several hundred’ more from Kabul: Macron

France is still seeking to evacuate hundreds more people from Afghanistan ahead of a looming deadline, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday, warning of an “extremely risky” situation in the wake of blasts around Kabul airport.

“We will do everything we can” to bring to France these Afghan citizens and dual nationals who had been in its embassy and are currently outside the perimeter of the airport in 20 buses, Macron said on a visit to Ireland, also confirming that the French ambassador would leave Afghanistan and work from Paris.

Situation deteriorating near Kabul airport: Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said “the situation has seriously deteriorated” near the Kabul airport after “several explosions happened in the last hours.”

Speaking in a news conference during a visit to Dublin, Ireland, Macron said “we are facing an extremely tense situation that makes us coordinate obviously with our American allies and call for the utmost caution in a context we don’t control.”

Biden briefed on Afghan airport attack: White House

President Joe Biden is currently in the Situation Room, said a White House official. He was briefed on the situation in Afghanistan. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are with him.

Two explosions in Kabul, comfirms Pentagon

A “complex attack” Thursday at the airport in Afghanistan’s capital Kabul, where a massive international airlift has been underway, caused a number of US and civilian casualties, the Pentagon said.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said an explosion occurred at the airport’s Abbey Gate and there was “at least one other” blast at the nearby Baron Hotel.

“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,” Kirby said in a tweet.

Twin explosions outside airport caused US and civilian casualties, says Pentagon

The Pentagon Thursday confirmed that the two explosions in ‘complex attack’ at Kabul airport has caused ‘US and civilian casualties’, reported AFP.

Visuals of the injured in Kabul blast emerge

Several people wounded in the ‘suspected suicide explosion close to Kabul airport have been taken to emergency hospital, reported Tolo News.

Update: Several people wounded in the blast close to Kabul airport have been taken to Emergency Hospital. #Afghanistan pic.twitter.com/qjdI4o7aGF

— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 26, 2021

No British casualties in ‘suicide bomb’ explosion

No British casualties so far after a suspected suicide bomb exploded outside Kabul airport, said Larisa Brown, reported  The Times .

At least 11 people killed in explosion

A Taliban official has said at least 11 people, including foreigners and children, have been killed in the explosion outside Kabul airport, reported Al Jazeera.

Pentagon confirms blast outside Kabul airport

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.

US officials said earlier on Thursday that concerns about security around the airport have increased based on “a very specific threat stream.”

Explosion outside Kabul airport

An explosion went off on Thursday outside the Kabul airport, where thousands of people have gathered to try to flee the country on Western airlift since the Taliban seized power earlier this month. The Pentagon confirmed the blast, with no immediate word on casualties.

Western nations had warned of a possible attack on Kabul’s airport in the waning days of the massive evacuation efforts.