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Explosion outside Kabul Airport, US Marines Injured

Image: Video Screenshot

The Pentagon confirmed on Thursday morning that one of Kabul airport’s entry gates was hit by a large explosion hours after western intelligence agencies warned of an impending terrorist threat.

UPDATE: 12:17 EST: Reuters, citing officials, said there are fears of more terrorist attacks at Kabul airport.

“At least 40 dead bodies and 120 wounded transferred to Kabul hospitals, with 60% of wounded in the critical condition,” a New York Times reporter based in Kabul said in a tweet.

US officials say number of wounded and dead after Kabul explosions expected to increase.

UPDATE 11:45 EST: Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that 52 people had been wounded in two explosions near Kabul airport. He added that the blast also caused casualties, but exact figures are not available.

Emergency hospital in Kabul, on other hand, says around 60 people arrived after Kabul airport explosions.

Another video from outside Kabul airport shows multiple people dead due to suicide bombing.

UPDATE 11:22 EST: There is a possibility that Prime Minister Bennett’s meeting with the US President Biden will be postponed, in light of the security incident in the Afghan capital, Kabul, which led to killing a number of Americans, Israeli media reports.

UPDATE 11:17 EST: Much of Kabul appears to be without mobile internet, according to local reports. Journalists on ground report they are hearing sirens of emergency vehicles constantly.

Taliban officials are using public warning loudspeakers to urge people to return home, according to local sources.

US official says attack outside Kabul airport is ‘definitely believed to be’ carried out by the Islamic State group, reports AP.

UPDATE 11:08 EST: Emergency hospital in Kabul says 30 wounded people have arrived in the hospital, 6 were dead on arrival, according to TOLO news.

Video from the blast scene shows multiple people dead. The video has been edited to hide the Graphic part.

UPDATE 10:42 EST: A US official says at least one of the US troops injured was seriously wounded, quoting initial information.

“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.” Pentagon’s Press Secretary, John Kirby said in a tweet.

UPDATE 10:37 EST: A Taliban official says 13 people have died including children and many Taliban guards have been injured in bomb blast (suicide bombing) outside Kabul’s airport.

State Department says initial reports suggest at least four U.S. service personnel have been wounded in explosion outside of Kabul Airport.

UPDATE 10:15 EST: According to Reuters, a US official says initial reports indicate that American service members, possibly two or three, were among those injured in the Kabul airport bombing.

As per WSJ, US Marines are injured in the bomb blast.

Videos posted on social media after the Kabul airport explosion shows multiple injured people.

Fox News and journalists from multiple media outlets  are reporting a second explosion in Kabul.

Background:

According to two US officials, an explosion was reported outside Hamid Karzai International Airport on Thursday.

According to three US officials, the blast occurred at one of the airport’s entry gates and appears to be a suicide attack. Crowds of Afghans have gathered at the airport’s gates, attempting to gain entry.

According to Pentagon spokesman John Kirby, there was an explosion outside the airport. “We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can,” he said in a tweet.

Earlier on Thursday, US officials stated that security concerns around the airport had increased due to “a very specific threat stream.”

Amb. Ross Wilson, the top US diplomat in Kabul, said Thursday that he couldn’t get into the specifics of the security threat outside the Kabul airport gates cited in an embassy alert, but that “it was clearly regarded as credible, as imminent, as compelling.”

According to a White House official, US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the explosion outside Kabul airport.

Kabul Airport Explosion Videos:

About the author

Brendan Taylor

Brendan Taylor was a TV news producer for 5 and a half years. He is an experienced writer. Brendan covers Breaking News at Insider Paper.







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