Second Explosion and Gunfire Reported Near Kabul Airport as Chaos Escalates
A second explosion has reportedly taken place outside of the Kabul airport in Afghanistan, rocking an already beleaguered U.S. military evacuation and taking the withdrawal crisis in a deadly new direction.
“We can confirm that the explosion near the Abbey Gate of the Kabul airport has resulted in an unknown number of casualties. We will continue to update,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby tweeted.
We can confirm that the explosion near the Abbey Gate of the Kabul airport has resulted in an unknown number of casualties. We will continue to update.
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
The explosion, which followed an earlier suicide bombing at a hotel near the airport, reportedly killed at least six and wounded at least 30, according to The Jerusalem Post.
“UK defence source confirms there were two explosions outside Kabul airport. One explosion occurred by Barons Hotel, followed by small arms fire, then a second explosion occurred by Abbey Gate. No UK military casualties, according to initial assessment,” Sky News reporter Deborah Haynes reported.
BREAKING: UK defence source confirms there were two explosions outside Kabul airport. One explosion occurred by Barons Hotel, followed by small arms fire, then a second explosion occurred by Abbey Gate. No UK military casualties, according to initial assessment
— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) August 26, 2021
A video that claimed to be from the second blast appeared on Twitter following the incident.
#BREAKING : Second explosion hit Baron Hotel near #Kabul airport where Americans were rescued last week. Casualties reported. pic.twitter.com/GsQ6tl2VfO
— Dr. APR ??? (@drapr007) August 26, 2021
Those wounded in the first blast reportedly included at least three U.S. military personnel.
BREAKING: At least 3 U.S. troops wounded in suicide bombing outside Abbey Gate at Kabul airport: U.S. officials
— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) August 26, 2021
“An ISIS suicide bomber was responsible for the explosion outside the Kabul airport, per a U.S. official and a source,” Politico tweeted.
“This comes just hours after officials began warning about an increased ISIS threat in Afghanistan,” it added.
An ISIS suicide bomber was responsible for the explosion outside the Kabul airport, per a U.S. official and a source.
This comes just hours after officials began warning about an increased ISIS threat in Afghanistan. https://t.co/WcwyOqOQLL
— POLITICO (@politico) August 26, 2021
“The U.S. embassy in Afghanistan has just issued a new warning that ‘U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time,” Fox News reported Thursday morning.
“‘There has been a large explosion at the airport, and there are reports of gunfire,’ the alert said. ‘U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately,'” the report added.
Security alert from US Embassy Kabul pic.twitter.com/asgLkugLj0
— Dion Nissenbaum (@DionNissenbaum) August 26, 2021
The explosions come following warnings of an imminent threat at the besieged Hamid Karzai International Airport.
This is a breaking story. Updates may be added.
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