Kabul: Suicide bomb blast claims over 60 lives, injures 140

KABUL:  A suicide bomber belonging to the Afghan branch of IS, detonated his suicide vest outside Abbey Gate (the main entrance to the Hamid Karzai Int’l Airport) here on Thursday (26th of August, 2021) killing 60 people including 12 US troops (11 marines and a Navy medic), injuring 140. 

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the explosion. It is pertinent to mention here that shortly before the blasts US officials asked people to stay away from the area as they had intelligence about the attack. Furthermore, after the blasts a gunfight was also reported around the Hamid Karzai Airport.

Earlier, John Kirby, Pentagon Press Secretary/Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, took to the twitter to inform about a powerful explosion that occurred outside Kabul’s Hamid Karzai International Airport: “We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can,” Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby stated.

British PM Boris Johnson is due to chair an emergency Cobr meeting although there is no report of any British Civil or Military casualty. British Ministry of Defence Press Office has stated by means of the Twitter: “We are working urgently to establish what has happened in Kabul and its impact on the ongoing evacuation effort. Our primary concern remains the safety of our personnel, British citizens and the citizens of Afghanistan. We are in close contact with our US and other NATO allies at an operational level on the immediate response to this incident. We are working urgently to establish what has happened in Kabul and its impact on the ongoing evacuation effort.”

Earlier, on Wed 25th of August, US diplomatic mission in Afghanistan had informed the US citizens to leave the area posthaste due to security threats. It may be recalled that afraid of the Taliban regime an enormous number of people (men, women and children) had thronged the airport in order to bolt from the country.

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M M Alam

M. M. Alam is a Pakistan-based working journalist since 1981. Karachi University faculty gold medalist Alam began his career four decades ago by writing for Dawn, Pakistan’s highest circulating English daily. He has worked for region’s leading publications, global aviation periodicals including Rotors (of USA) and vetted New York Times as permanent employee of daily Express Tribune. Alam regularly covers international aviation and defense-related events including Salon Du Bourget (France), Farnborough (United Kingdom), Dubai (UAE). Alam has reported thousands of events and interviewed hundreds of people in Pakistan, UAE, EU, UK and USA. Being Francophone Alam also coordinates with a number of French publications.