UK orders airlines to avoid Afghan airspace after terror attack as Cobra meeting held

The Prime Minister has condemned the “barbaric” attacks in Afghanistan and confirmed evacuations will continue.  Mr Johnson added members of the US military “very sadly have lost their lives” in the attacks in Kabul, as well as “many Afghan casualties”. The emergency security meeting was held after the US Pentagon confirmed there had been at least two deadly blasts near the refugee evacuation airport in Kabul.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed one explosion took place near the Abbey Gate of Hamid Karzai International Airport.

A number of US and Afghan civilians are understood to have been killed.

Mr Kirby also said at least one other explosion was reported near the nearby Baron Hotel in the capital.

He tweeted: “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.

“We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update.”

A Taliban official said at least 13 people had been killed, including children, and many Taliban guards were wounded.

A British defence source told Sky News it is “highly likely” that an Islamic State group in Afghanistan, known as Isis-K, is responsible for the attack.

UK officials have also issued a notice to airlines to avoid Afghan airspace under 25,000 feet.

Speaking following the Cobra meeting, Mr Johnson said:  “I want to stress that this threat of a terrorist attack is one of the constraints that we’ve been operating under in Operation Pitting, in the big extraction that’s been going on, and we’ve been ready for it, we’ve been prepared for it.

“And I want to stress that we’re going to continue with that operation – and we’re now coming towards the end of it, to the very end of it, in any event.”

He added: “But, clearly, what this attack shows is the importance of continuing that work in as fast and as efficient manner as possible in the hours that remain to us, and that’s what we’re going to do.”

The horrific incidents comes as intelligence sources warned of the prospect of a terror attack before the end of the refugee evacuation programme.

US and UK military forces have been working towards a strict August 31 deadline to rescue those fleeing the country.

Armed Forces minister James Heappey had earlier conceded there was “very credible reporting” of an “imminent” and “severe” terror threat.

On Wednesday night, the Foreign Office urged UK nationals near Kabul airport to leave and head for safety due to an “ongoing and high threat of terrorist attack”.

Following the attack on Thursday afternoon, the Ministry of Defence has said it is “working urgently” to establish what happened in Kabul and “its impact on the ongoing evacuation effort”.

A statement added: “Our primary concern remains the safety of our personnel, British citizens and the citizens of Afghanistan.”

The MoD also confirmed there has been “no reported UK military or UK Government casualties”.

Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat, who served in Afghanistan, said the attack in Kabul showed “the horror of Taliban rule”.

The chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee tweeted: “The attack on innocent people at Kabul airport simply trying to escape the horror of Taliban rule shows exactly who the group has brought with them.

“The pattern is well established – from Nigeria and Mali to Syria and Iraq, whenever Islamist extremists take power, terror follows.”

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “Devastating reports from Kabul. Our thoughts are with all those killed and wounded, serving personnel supporting the evacuations and all those desperately trying to leave.

“The bravery of the troops at the airport will always outweigh the cowardice of those who wish to harm us.”

Some 1,988 people have been evacuated from Kabul by UK forces in the past 24 hours, Mr Heappey said.

Britain has now rescued more than 12,000 Afghans since the Taliban took control.

Speaking following a virtual meeting of G7 leaders on Tuesday, the Prime Minister said the “overwhelming majority” of eligible people have now been evacuated from Afghanistan, but he conceded the time left is now “quite short”.

Mr Johnson vowed “we’ll do everything we can to get everybody else” before next Tuesday’s deadline.