Pentagon Says Only 1 Suicide Bomber Behind Kabul Attack; Death Toll Crosses 170
Catch all the updates on the Kabul airport blasts and the Afghanistan crisis here.
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The deadly attack in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Thursday was carried out by a single suicide bomber at a gate to the airport and there was no second explosion at a nearby hotel, the Pentagon said on Friday, 27 August, according to Reuters.
Meanwhile, an Afghan health official told CNN that the death toll in the attack has increased to more than 170, with more than 200 wounded.
The Islamic State's Afghanistan affiliate had earlier claimed responsibility for what was reported to be two blasts, saying one of the bombers targeted "translators and collaborators with the American army."
The attack comes days after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan earlier in August. Ever since, chaotic scenes have emerged at the Kabul airport, with countries scrambling to evacuate their citizens and Afghans working with them, while locals have been desperate to flee the country.
India on Thursday condemned the bomb attack in Kabul, saying it reinforced the need for the world to stand united against terrorism
'We will not forgive. We'll not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay,' US President Joe Biden was quoted as saying in reference to the perpetrators of the attack
The US has anticipated more attack attempts in the aftermath of the Kabul bombings
Britain will end evacuations from Afghanistan 'in a matter of hours', AFP reported on Friday, quoting the country's defence minister
Death Toll in Kabul Attack Crosses 170
An Afghan health official has told CNN that the death toll in the Kabul attack has increased to more than 170, with more than 200 wounded.
2 UK Nationals, Child Killed in Kabul Attack
Two British nationals and the child of a British national are among those so-far confirmed killed in the Kabul airport attack, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Friday, according to AFP.
Single Suicide Bomber Carried Out Attack in Kabul: Pentagon
A deadly attack in Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Thursday was carried out by a single suicide bomber at a gate to the airport and there was no second explosion at a nearby hotel, the Pentagon said on Friday.
"I can confirm for you that we do not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, that it was one suicide bomber," Army Major General William Taylor told reporters. He said U.S. troops wounded in the attack were now being treated in Germany.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told the reporters the United States believed there are still "specific, credible" threats.
Kabul Blasts: Death Toll Goes Beyond 100
The death toll in the Kabul airport blasts rose beyond 100, with an official cited by The Associated Press saying the bodies of at least 95 Afghans were taken from the site of the incident.
At least 13 US troops are also among those killed.
Britain to End Afghanistan Evacuations 'In a Matter of Hours'
Britain will end evacuations from Afghanistan 'in a matter of hours', news agency AFP reported on Friday, quoting the country's defence minister. Spain, too, will reportedly end evacuations on Friday itself.
Meanwhile, the US has anticipated more attack attempts in the aftermath of the Kabul bombings, and before the 31 August evacuation deadline.
Kabul Blasts: Death Toll Rises to 85
The death toll in the Kabul airport blasts rose to 85 on Friday, including 72 Afghans and 13 US troops.
Among the 72 Afghans killed, 28 were Taliban members, reports said.
IS-K Cells Have Roots in Taliban & Haqqani Network: Amrullah Saleh
Amrullah Saleh, who declared himself the acting president of Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Taliban takeover, said on Friday that the cells of IS-K (Islamic State-Khorasan), which claimed responsibility for the Kabul blasts, have their roots in Taliban and the Haqqani Network, particularly the ones operating in Kabul.
"Talibs denying links with ISIS is identical/similar to denial of Pak on Quetta Shura. Talibs hv leanred vry well from the master," he tweeted.
US Flag to Be Flown at Half-Mast in Honour of Victims: White House
The US flag will be flown at half-mast until the evening of 30 August to honour the victims killed in the blasts near the Kabul airport, the White House said.
'We'll Hunt You Down and Make You Pay': US President Biden After Kabul Attack
US President Joe Biden, speaking after the Kabul blasts, referred to the perpetrators, saying, "We will not forgive. We'll not forget. We'll hunt you down and make you pay."
Pointing out that there's no evidence so far of any collusion between the Taliban and the Islamic State in the attacks, Biden was quoted as saying, "We'll rescue the American citizens from Afghanistan. We'll get our Afghan allies out and our mission will go on."
Over 95,000 people have been evacuated from Afghanistan with US help since 14 August, the White House was quoted as saying on Thursday.
Concerns have also been raised over the evacuation deadline of 31 August, and whether all those eligible to leave the country would be able to do so by then.
Reinforces Need for World to Stand United Against Terrorism: India on Kabul Attack
India on Thursday condemned the bomb attack in Kabul, saying it reinforced the need for the world "to stand unitedly against terrorism and all those who provide sanctuaries to terrorists."
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