VICTIMS OF WAR
Harrowing moment Afghan describes ‘baby girl dying in his arms’ as Kabul suicide bomb blast kills 13
THIS is the harrowing moment an Afghan man describes a "baby girl dying in his arms" after a suicide bomb blast in Kabul killed at least 13 people.
Two explosions rocked the city's airport today as desperate Afghans were left with just hours to flee the Taliban.
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An Afghan man, who gave the name Carl, described the terrifying scenes at the airport after the attacks.
He told : "A girl... she died in my hands... people are running around.
"She was somebody else's girl, and I saw her on the ground, I picked her up and I took her to the hospital but she died."
Carl, who said he worked as a translator for the US Marines, said he feared the Taliban was going to kill him.
He said they had turned up at his house twice, and he believed they would target him if he tried to board a flight out of Kabul.
At least 12 US troops died and dozens of civilians were among those hurt in the carnage.
Thousands of people have gathered at the airport over the past 12 days hoping to be evacuated after the Taliban seized power.
A US official confirmed the first blast was caused by a suicide bomb, with initial reports suggesting the second explosion was a car bomb.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said one explosion occurred near buses lined up outside Abbey Gate and the other close to the nearby Baron Hotel.
A source told Fox News that the attacks in Kabul may be an "ongoing event" - with more violence to come.
The blast carnage at the airport comes as…
- Hours before UK and US governments warned Kabul Airport faced ‘imminent, highly lethal’ attack
- Desperate Afghans were told ‘forget airport and run for border’ to flee from Taliban
- Ex-Marine Pen Farthing and his 200 animals were blocked from airport by Taliban
- Taliban took a US Black Hawk helicopter for joy ride after seizing 200,000 firearms
Bloodied survivors were raced from the scene in wheelbarrows, according to local TV news channels.
Shocking footage showed desperate loved ones searching through dozens of bodies in a sewage canal on the outskirts of the airport.
At least 70 people - including children - have been killed in the blasts.
ISIS are believed to be behind the horrific explosions - which came just hours after officials warned of an imminent attack.
A British defence source told Sky News it is "highly likely" the affiliate of the so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan - ISIS-K - was responsible for the attacks.
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Mr Kirby said on Twitter: "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."
🔵 Read our Afghanistan live blog for the latest updates
A UK official said there were no reports of British military of government casualties, but US soldiers had been hurt.
Boris Johnson will chair an emergency COBRA meeting later today after the blast.
The Prime Minister had already warned time was running out to rescue people from Afghanistan ahead of the deadline.
A UK government spokesman said: "We are working urgently to establish what has happened 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."
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It's not clear whether the shots were aimed at the military plane.
Italian intelligence sources believe the plane was struck by shots fired into the air to disperse a crowd near the airport, a government source told Reuters.
Armed forces minister James Heappey today described the terror threat to people outside Kabul airport as "lethal" amid concerns over ISIS-K.
"I can't stress the desperation of the situation enough, the threat is credible, it is imminent, it is lethal," he told BBC Breakfast.
"And we wouldn't be saying this if we weren't genuinely concerned about offering Islamic State a target."
Heappey warned a possible terror attack in Kabul could come within "hours".
He told LBC: "I was given lines today for what might happen if the attack happened while I was doing this media round."
He added: "I don't think everybody should be surprised by this, Daesh, or Islamic State, are guilty of all sorts of evil.
"But the opportunism of wanting to target a major international humanitarian mission is just utterly deplorable but sadly true to form for an organisation as barbarous as Daesh."
And Colonel Richard Kemp, former head of British forces in Afghanistan, said the threat of a terror attack at the airport "has existed right the way from when this evacuation began".
"That threat of terrorist attack, whether it's from Taliban, the Islamic State, or al Qaida, it could equally be all three of those groups," he told BBC Breakfast.
"The fact that people are talking about Islamic State doesn't make that the most likely threat.
"I think that threat has existed right the way from when this evacuation began, and I have no doubt that our forces are fully aware of the threat and already, for days now, have been taking measures to try and mitigate it, to prevent something like that happening.
"But, clearly, there could be a terrorist attack of some sort against the forces in the airport, maybe forces outside the airport, and of course the people trying to get in."
A Home Office spokesperson said: "The security situation in Afghanistan remains volatile.
"There is an ongoing and high threat of terrorist attack. Do not travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport.
"If you are in the area of the airport, move away to a safe location and await further advice."
Heappey said there will be 11 more flights out of Kabul today - but declined to say whether there will be more on Friday, citing the security of troops.
'MAKE IT TO THE BORDER'
Meanwhile Defence Secretary Ben Wallace yesterday said Afghans should stay away from the airfield - where the terror group is taking over.
Questioned about what Afghans who have been offered student places or fellowships in the UK should do, Mr Wallace said: "If they think they can make it to a third country, that may be a better option."
Pressed by a Tory backbencher, Mr Wallace added: "I recommend that they try and make it to the border … because it is higher profile going to the airport – that is where the Taliban will be focusing their efforts at the moment."
It comes as ministers said it was almost certain that people would be stranded after the Taliban ordered troops to quit by August 31 — and US President Joe Biden agreed.
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Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab insists the country is working “as fast as we can” to rescue thousands of British nationals and Afghans at risk of reprisals.
But the clock is ticking for the 6,000 US troops and roughly 1,000 Paras who will need time to coordinate their retreat.
The last major RAF civilian airlifts are expected to end tomorrow although experts say Brit troops will try to find slots for fleeing civilians until the last planes take off.
The US marines and 82nd Airborne Division troops are expected to retreat in stages, collapsing their perimeter and ceding ground to the Taliban each time their numbers shrink.
Mr Raab added: “We’re going to keep going for every day and every hour that we’ve got left.”
The Taliban said the deadline of August 31 was a red line and not negotiable.
We’re going to keep going for every day and every hour that we’ve got left.
Dominic Raab
Sources suggested the military would plan to leave before then in case something went wrong.
At Heathrow, thousands of Afghans began pouring into the UK yesterday as commercial flights opened up a new escape route.
Desperate families fleeing the Taliban — some wearing no shoes and with no belongings — began flooding into Terminal 4.
Troops marshalled their arrival and Army teams set up a processing centre before they were ferried to undisclosed hotel locations.
The first three flights — delayed by the chaos as the airport in Kabul — arrived on Tuesday with eight more due yesterday.
Commercial carriers, including Ethiopian Airlines, were ferrying hundreds into Britain.
Home Secretary Priti Patel had visited the Border Force staff and troops running the operation late on Tuesday evening.
She tweeted her praise for the teams: “Safeguarding brave Afghan staff and their families who risked their lives working with the UK.”
But it was unclear last night how many of those arriving were interpreters and staff who had helped British Forces during the 20-year campaign in Afghanistan.
Safeguarding brave Afghan staff and their families who risked their lives working with the UK.
Priti Patel
Home Office staff declined to give details — insisting they were unwilling to “provide a running commentary” — or say where refugees were being taken.
But large groups were pictured being led out of Terminal 4 on to buses yesterday.
Heathrow source said: “Some of the arrivals have luggage and are quite well dressed but others look absolutely desperate — it’s so sad.
“Several have arrived without shoes and the Red Cross are having to find them clothes.
“Hundreds came on Tuesday on three planes but there were supposed to be five, so things obviously are not going entirely to plan.
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“There were due to be eight more flights coming on Wednesday but more delays and confusion are expected with time running out.
“The ones we saw looked exhausted but relieved. They know they are the lucky ones.”
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Desperate Afghans continue endless wait outside Kabul airport, some standing in knee-deep water and waste
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