Two powerful blasts outside Afghanistan's Kabul airport have killed at least 20 people, including children, and injured 60 others, including Taliban guards.
A Taliban official said the blast outside Kabul airport killed 20 people, including children, and wounded several others, including Taliban guards and US troops.
A Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, told AFP that 13 to 20 people had been killed and 52 wounded in the blast at Kabul airport, while six people had been killed and 90 injured, according to the Kabul Emergency Hospital.
The Pentagon said the bomber struck shortly after noon in front of a U.S. military base.
The Taliban condemned the bombings at the airport, saying the area was under US military control.
"The Islamic Emirate condemns the bombing of Kabul airport and the targeting of civilians," Zabihullah Mujahid said on Twitter.
The U.S. official, citing an initial report, said the wounded included U.S. soldiers and had been killed, but did not know the number or their nationalities.
The Kabul Emergency Hospital management said that more than 30 injured people were brought to the hospital and 6 people died when they were brought to the hospital. 🔴 More than 30 patients have arrived at our #Kabul Surgical Centre so far. 6 others already dead on arrival. We have activated all mass casualty protocols. #Kabulairport #Afghanistan
The Emergency Hospital said in a second tweet that 60 injured people had been brought to the surgical center. 🔴 Around 60 patients wounded in airport attack have arrived at our #Kabul Surgical Centre so far. #KabulAirport #Afghanistan
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the first blast occurred near the Abbey Gate and the second near a hotel outside. Two U.S. officials said one was a suicide bomber.
"We can confirm that the bombing near Abe Gate was the worst attack, killing Americans and civilians," Kirby said on Twitter.
"We can confirm another explosion outside the hotel, a short distance from Abe Gate," he said. 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.
A U.S. official told Reuters the wounded included three U.S. military officials, but that the number was expected to rise.
The U.S. military says a car bomb had exploded at an Iraqi police recruiting center at Kisak, west of Mosul.
The U.S. embassy in Kabul described the incident as "a major explosion" and said there were reports of gunfire. The United States and its allies have said there are intelligence reports that a bomb could explode at Kabul airport. کابل میں دوسرے دھماکے کا منظر pic.twitter.com/Qn1PQyGIKb
According to the foreign news agency, White House sources said that US President Joe Biden has been informed about the explosion outside Kabul airport.
He said Biden was attending a meeting with security officials on the situation in Afghanistan at the time and that the first blast had been reported.
The British Ministry of Defense said efforts were being made to determine the cause of the blast.
"We are assessing what happened in Kabul as a matter of urgency and what impact it will have on evacuation efforts," the social networking site said in a statement on Twitter. We are working urgently to establish what has happened in Kabul and its impact on the ongoing evacuation effort.
"Our top priority is the safety of our officials, the UK and the citizens of Afghanistan. We are in close contact with our US and NATO allies to provide immediate assistance," the Pentagon said in a statement.
The Turkish Defense Ministry said there had been two explosions outside Kabul airport, but no Turkish military official had been harmed.
Western warnings
It may be recalled that Western countries had warned their citizens to leave Kabul Airport immediately in view of the threat of terrorism.
The State Department said in a statement that "those at the Abbey Gate, South Gate or North Gate must evacuate immediately," citing unknown "security threats."
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs had said that the risk of a terrorist attack remained high and that Hamid Karzai should not travel to Kabul International Airport.
"If you are in the airport area, move to a safer place and wait for more advice," he said.
