Explosion reported at Kabul airport, no word on casualties so far

KABUL: The US military today confirmed a large explosion outside the Hamid Karzai International airport in Afghanistan’s Kabul, as the US-led airlift of thousands continued inside the compound.

US and allied officials have said they had intelligence that suicide bombers were threatening to attack the airport.

However, There is currently no immediate word on casualties so far.

Early on Thursday Kabul time Western nations warned their citizens to immediately leave the surrounds of the airport over a terrorist threat, as thousands of people tried to reach a dwindling number of evacuation flights.

The Kabul airport has witnessed chaotic scenes since August 15, as thousands have been queuing up to leave since the takeover of Afghanistan by the insurgent group Taliban.

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The American intelligence, along with US President Joe Biden, had publicly warned about the "high risk" of a possible terrorist attack at the Kabul airport.

The attack could be perpetrated by ISIS-Khorasan, the militant group which is a rival of Taliban, Biden had said on August 24.

A similar warning was also issued by other western nations, which came amid the ongoing evacuation efforts which have intensified in view of the August 31 deadline set by Taliban for the total withdrawal of the US troops.

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