Time.news – What was feared happened: Kabul airport, stormed by Afghans and Westerners who want to leave the country, was hit by three explosions: two in the Italian early afternoon, when it was already evening in Afghanistan and two more when it was already night in the country. At least 90 dead and 150 injured even if the balance remains uncertain. The Taliban themselves speak of 72 civilians killed. Among the victims are 13 US marines. Isis claimed responsibility for the attack.
It was since the night that all Western intelligence agencies had warned of “an imminent attack” and shortly before the Biden administration had called on their compatriots to leave the airport area “immediately”.
An explosion occurred near Kabul airport. So far, several of the injured have been taken to an emergency hospital for treatment. pic.twitter.com/6EEJ1weBej
— TOLOnews (@TOLOnews) August 26, 2021
The first explosion occurred near the Abbey Gate of the international airport, the busiest one, near the British checkpoint, and was followed by gunshots. According to local media, it is a suicide bombing. Shortly after, when alerts were already circulating to leave the area, another explosion occurred outside The Baron Hotel, where Westerners are waiting to board flights.
The attack follows a frantic morning in which they registered shoot at the address of an Italian C-130 and in which several Western countries had announced the end of their evacuation flights, precisely fearing an imminent attack.
President Joe Biden, who had already met in the Situation Room, with his closest advisers for a meeting precisely on Afghanistan, was immediately updated; and the meeting was quickly joined by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, General Milley and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
However, the exact number of casualties in the Kabul airport blast is still unknown. But eyewitnesses read the number of dead a lot pic.twitter.com/XFddfg0Tgl
– Mahboob Rahman saee (@Mahboob_saee) August 26, 2021
The response of the Taliban
A Kabul journalist translated and released a statement by Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, in which the Americans had been informed of a possible ISIS attack at Kabul airport. The Guardian writes it.
“The Taliban, engaged with the international community, will not allow terrorists to use Afghanistan as a base for their operations. The Taliban have warned American troops of possible terrorist groups such as ISIS,” Zabihullah’s statement read.
The chronology of the facts (being updated)
What was feared happened: the Kabul airport, stormed by Afghans and Westerners who want to leave the country, was hit by a double violent explosion. It was from the night that all Western intelligence agencies had warned of the risk of “an imminent attack”; and shortly before, the Biden administration had urged compatriots to leave the airport area “immediately”. Here is the Time.news of the frantic minutes lived in Kabul.
15:44 – First explosion at Kabul airport, near Abbey Gate, the busiest
15:50: Biden is already in the Situation Room for a briefing on Afghanistan and is immediately updated; shortly thereafter, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, General Milley and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrive.
15:55: Media warns, numerous victims
16:13 – Arab media warns of the risk of a second explosion
16:20 – American media, among the wounded, three US Marines
16:25 – The US Department of State to compatriots: away from the airport and the gates, IMMEDIATELY
16:28 – The second explosion arrives near Hotel The Baron, which houses Westerners awaiting evacuation
16:32 – Taliban confirm that there are dead, at least 13 including some children
16:41 – Emergency hospital begins to collect attack wounded
16:59 – Taliban: we will not allow the country to become a US base
17:06 – The Isis claim arrives: It was us
17:07 – Sources of the Italian Defense, no Italians involved in the explosions
17:22 – Pentagon, US victims and civilians in explosion, it was a “complex” attack. According to anonymous sources, 5 US soldiers were injured.
I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack outside #Acceptance 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.
– Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) August 26, 2021
17:48 – “I strongly condemn the horrific terrorist attack outside the Kabul airport. My thoughts are with all those affected and their loved ones. Our priority remains to evacuate as many people as safely as possible. quickly as possible “. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg writes in a tweet.
17:52 – “Our priority remains to evacuate as many people safely as quickly as possible” from Afghanistan. This was stated in a tweet by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, commenting on the attacks outside the Kabul airport.
18:17 – “I strongly condemn the cowardly and inhuman attacks at Kabul airport. It is essential to do everything to ensure the safety of people at the airport”. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, writes in a tweet. “The international community must work closely together to prevent a resurgence of terrorism in Afghanistan and elsewhere,” he adds.
18:48 – Ensuring security at Kabul airport was the responsibility of the United States. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid underlined this in a note published on Twitter. “The Islamic Emirate strongly condemns the explosive attack on civilians at the Kabul airport, which took place in an area where US forces are responsible for security”, the note reads, “the Islamic Emirate is paying close attention to security and protection of its people, and malicious organizations will be vigorously opposed. “
19:16 – “We are negotiating with the Taliban on how to make further evacuations possible”. Angela Merkel said this in Berlin. “Once the airlift from Kabul is finished, we will try every possibility to take people who need protection out of the country,” added the chancellor.
19:22 – The toll of the attacks that took place in the afternoon in Kabul is between 13 and 20 dead and 52 injured: a Taliban spokesman reports to the AFP.
19:28 – “None of our compatriots were involved in the attacks recorded today in Kabul. I wish to thank the Italian military and diplomats for their courage and commitment”. Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said in a statement.
20:10 – The Taliban and Ahmad Massoud’s militias that control Panshir, the only Afghan province not surrendering to the Koranic students, have concluded the first round of negotiations with a ceasefire agreement that will be valid until the next negotiating table. This was reported by Tolo News.
20:15 – A third explosion occurred near the Kabul airport. Murad Gazdiev, Russia Today’s Afghanistan correspondent, reports.
20:48 – “I strongly condemn the cowardly attacks at Kabul airport against people who want security. The EU stands in solidarity with Afghan citizens. We will continue to fight terrorism together with international partners”. The High Representative of the EU for foreign policy, Josep Borrell, writes in a tweet.
21:11 – General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of the central command of the United States, in a press briefing confirmed that in the explosions that took place at the Kabul airport 12 US soldiers died and 15 others were injured. McKenzie explained that after the explosions some terrorists opened fire and that, based on current information, the attack is attributable to ISIS.
21:27 – General Kenneth McKenzie, commander of the central command of the United States, explained in a press briefing that Washington is working with the Taliban to gather information on the attacks that hit the Kabul airport. When asked by a reporter, McKenzie denied that the Taliban could have let the attack happen, and that, indeed, they should be used as a “tool to protect us”.
McKenzie thinks it possible that the Taliban have “foiled more attacks” and explained that the Quranic students and Washington have a “common interest” in letting the evacuation mission end, which would make it very unlikely that they played a role in the attack. .
21:49 – Isis has claimed responsibility for the attack outside Kabul airport. An attacker, according to the Telegram channel of the news agency linked to the terrorist organization, Amaq, “managed to reach a group of translators and collaborators of the US army at the ‘Baran Camp’ near the Kabul airport and made shining his explosive belt between them, killing about 60 people and injuring more than 100, including Taliban fighters. ”
22:02 – What happened in Kabul “is a tragedy that should never have happened”: this was stated by the former US president, Donald Trump.
10:14 pm – The new explosions heard at the Kabul airport are controlled explosions carried out by US forces to destroy their equipment. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid explains it on Twitter.
11:57 pm – Speaking to the nation, Joe Biden said the evacuation goes on and that those responsible for the massacre will be flushed out.
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