Twin bomb blasts in Kabul hit U.S. marines, others

The incident came hours after intelligence reports warned of possible attacks near the airport in the beleaguered Afghan capital.

HILLARY ESSIEN • August 26, 2021

TOPSHOT – Afghan security forces arrive at the site of a car bomb attack in Kabul on May 31, 2017. At least 40 people were killed or wounded on May 31 as a massive blast ripped through Kabul’s diplomatic quarter, shattering the morning rush hour and bringing carnage to the streets of the Afghan capital. / AFP PHOTO / SHAH MARAI

Two rapid explosions in Kabul left three American marines wounded on Thursday, officials said, amidst claims that several others might have been killed or injured in the same attacks.

“We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time,” U.S. Defense spokesman John Kirby said in a statement on Twitter. “We will provide additional details when we can.”

A suicide bomber reportedly detonated explosives at the airport in Kabul where the U.S. military personnel were injured. Another explosion was heard at Baron Hotel in Kabul, Fox News reported citing officials.

It was unclear how many people were injured in total. No immediate fatalities were reported, but several media outlets said the intensity of the airport bombing might have killed some travellers.

The attack came barely hours after the British intelligence warned of a credible threat of attack at the airport, which has seen an unprecedented upsurge in travellers as foreigners and Afghans scamper to leave the country in the wake of Taliban takeover.

On Wednesday, the Washington Post said the CIA sent its top man to Kabul to negotiate an extension of the August 31 withdrawal deadline for U.S. and allied personnel still trapped in the country.

President Joe Biden had maintained that the August 31 withdrawal date remained sacrosanct for Americans and their allies.