At least 72 Afghan nationals, including 28 Taliban members, and another 13 US service members have been killed in the explosions took place near Kabul Hamid Karzai airport on Thursday. The two explosions by suicide bombers happened at Abbey Gate of the airport and a nearby hotel yesterday afternoon, reported AP. At least 158 people were injured after the explosions, reports say.
Terror group ISIS-K (Islamic State of Khorasan) has claimed the responsibility of the attacks. They are said to be at odds with the Taliban.
There were warnings that terrorists might attack civilians as the evacuation process at the airport progresses. The Taliban have put August 31 as the deadline to complete evacuation. Soon after the US denied to extension of this timeline even after the pressure from European countries, thousands of people have been rushing to the airport to flee the country.
There are fears about further attacks before the evacuation ends.
Meanwhile United Kingdom Defence Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed the evacuation mission will be over in a ‘matter of hours.’
“We will process the people that we’ve brought with us, the 1,000 people approximately in the airfield now and we will seek a way to continue to find a few people in the crowds where we can, but overall the main processing is now closed,” Wallace said, according to a report by Sky News.
He also added everyone might not get out.
Following the tragic attacks, US President Joe Biden warned those behind the attacks that the US would hunt them down.
“We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.” Biden said.
He also added that the US will continue evacuation amid terrorist threats.
Many countries including India, UK, Australia and Canada condemned the attacks in Kabul.