Olis Johnson Vowed to continue the evacuation work Afghanistan After the “barbaric” terrorist attack acceptance The airport where dozens of people died, including the US military killed in at least two bombings.
The Prime Minister said on Thursday that “the vast majority” of eligible people have been helped to flee Taliban Depend on Royal Air Force As the deadline approaches, “we will continue to move forward until the last minute.”
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed that there were two explosions in a “complex attack” outside Hamid Karzai International Airport.
An American general stated that gunmen from the so-called Islamic State (IS) opened fire on civilians. According to multiple reports, the terrorist organization later claimed responsibility for the atrocities. Earlier it was suggested that the Afghan separatist group Isis-K was behind the attack. Black hand. .
Officials said at least 72 people were killed, including 11 U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy medic, and more than 150 people were injured, including 15 U.S. service personnel.
The Ministry of Defence stated that there were no reports of casualties of the British military or the British government.
After presiding over the emergency cobra meeting on Thursday, Mr. Johnson said: “I can confirm that there was a brutal terrorist attack in Kabul, the airport, the airport, and it looked like a series of attacks. Sadly lost their lives, there are still many Afghans casualties.”
US officials said that among the dead were 11 marines and a naval medic.
The Prime Minister told reporters in Downing Street that the evacuation plan will be “completely” according to “our timetable.”
“This is what we are going to do, because the vast majority of eligible people have now been evacuated from Afghanistan,” he added.
Commander of the US Central Command and Marine Corps General Kenneth McKenzie said at a press conference that IS gunmen attacked civilians and that further attacks may occur.
The general said that his “working hypothesis” was that a suicide bomber approached American service personnel near the airport’s monastery gate, then exploded and then opened fire on American military personnel and civilians.
He said that another bomb exploded near the Barron Hotel. After the Taliban seized control of the country, Britain has been there to deal with British and Afghans who are eligible to evacuate.
General Mackenzie said: “After the attack on the gate of the monastery, some ISIS gunmen opened fire on civilians and the army.”
“The threat from Isis is very real,” he said, adding that the United States will continue its evacuation mission and he does not expect more U.S. military airborne assistance.
An official in Kabul said that at least 60 Afghans were killed in the airport attack and another 143 were injured.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said his organization “strongly condemned” the attack and claimed that it occurred in an area controlled by the United States.
The Secretary of Transportation Grant Schaps issued an aviation notice that further advised airlines to avoid Afghan airspace below 25,000 feet.
The Secretary of the Armed Forces James Heappey had earlier warned that there are “very credible reports” of “imminent” and “serious” terrorist threats.
Because of concerns about the IS terrorist organization, he urged people queuing outside the airport to move to a safe place.
Alicia Kearns, a member of the Foreign Affairs and National Security Strategy Committee, said the attack near the Barron Hotel “caused many injuries.”
The Conservative MP wrote on Twitter: “A bomb or shooting occurred at the north gate of the Baron Hotel. I am worried that this will disrupt the evacuation-so many people were injured. My heart is with all the injured and dead.”
A local witness told the Palestinian Authority that when he walked to attend the evening prayers, he heard the explosion at the Kabul airport.
For safety reasons, Ahmed has changed his name and he said he is safe because he is some distance from the explosion.
“First there was the explosion, then the fire, I mean… violent artillery fire,” he said. “But even people who are far away are running…there is an alarm.”
The leader of the Labour Party, Sir Kil Starmer, said the report from Kabul was “shocking” and added: “We are with all the dead and injured, the service staff who supported the evacuation, and all those desperately trying to leave.”
Due to the “continuous threat of terrorist attacks,” the British Foreign Office warned British nationals near the airport to leave and go to safety on Wednesday night. The evacuation work has already been under additional pressure.
After US President Joe Biden refused a request for an extension of the time frame, Mr. Johnson vowed that “we will make every effort to keep others before the deadline for the withdrawal of British troops before the withdrawal of American troops.”
But the Prime Minister admitted that although the “largest share” of eligible Afghans has been withdrawn from the country, “there are still people who need help.”
The United States is providing security at Kabul Airport, which means that other Allied forces are expected to have to reduce their evacuation efforts and leave before the Americans.
Mr. Heappey once stated that in the past 24 hours, 8 Royal Air Force flights successfully transported 1,988 people from Kabul, bringing the total number of people since the Taliban began to power to 12,279.
