Death toll in Kabul bombing rises to 85
News Desk:
Two powerful explosions outside Kabul airport have killed 13 US servicemen and 72 Afghans including children. The blast also wounded many Taliban guards deployed outside the airport. Both coordinated blasts also killed 13 US soldiers deployed at the airport.
A United States official said 13 US service members were among the wounded, adding he was citing an initial report and cautioning that it could change. He said there were casualties but did not know how many or of what nationality.
US President Joe Biden in a video message warned, “we will not forgive, we will not forget and we will hunt the perpetrators”. ISIS-Khorasan, an Islamic State affiliate claimed responsibility. ISIS, an enemy of the Taliban as well as the West, said one of its suicide bombers targeted “translators and collaborators with the American army”.
Kabul’s Emergency Hospital said in a tweet that it has received more than 30 patients so far while six others were already dead on arrival. Hospitals were awash with injured from blasts.
Thousands of people have been gathering outside the airport in recent days. Western troops are racing to evacuate foreigners and Afghans who helped Western countries during the 20-year war against the Taliban and to get out themselves by an Aug 31 deadline.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said one blast occurred near the airport’s Abbey Gate and the other close to the nearby Baron Hotel. Two US officials said at least one of the explosions appeared to be from a suicide bombing.
“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,” Kirby said on Twitter. “We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate.”
