Four US marines among 40 dead in 'ISIS suicide bomb' attack at Kabul airport: NATO countries start to pull the plug on evacuations as airfield gates are 'welded shut' - but PM insists UK flights WILL continue
https://www.dailymail.co.uk ^ | UPDATED: 13:51 EDT, 26 August 2021 | JACK NEWMAN and JAMES ROBINSON and NICK CRAVENFour US Marines are thought to be among the 40 people killed in an 'ISIS suicide' bomb attack outside Kabul airport today.
Jihadist splinter group ISIS-K are believed to be behind the two blasts outside the gates of Kabul airport, where thousands of Afghans were awaiting evacuation.
The disaster - which comes after warnings by US and UK officials of an 'imminent' terror attack - could now spark an immediate to the West's frantic evacuation efforts in Afghanistan.
NATO countries, including Denmark, have already stopped their evacuation efforts this evening, while the gates to the airport have now been sealed by US troops in the aftermath.
However Boris Johnson, who this evening chaired an emergency COBRA meeting at Downing Street, insisted the UK will continue its evacuation flights. UK officials earlier today said there were a dozen evacuation flights still scheduled to leave Kabul.
It comes after as the Taliban say as many as 40 people, including children, were killed in two separate explosions near Kabul airport today - just hours after warnings of an 'imminent' and 'lethal' ISIS terror attack.
The first blast was set off by a suicide bomber outside the Barons Hotel where British troops, journalists and UN officials have been staying during frantic evacuation mission by Western forces.
It was then followed by gunfire and mass panic before a second explosion ripped through a crowd of Afghans gathered at the Abbey Gate of the Hamid Karzai airport.
Western officials say at least 13 people have died in the attacks, though the Taliban, who this evening condemned the 'evil' attacks, say at least 40 people could have died.
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