11 killed in Kabul airport bomb attacks

A Taliban official has said that at least 11 people have been killed in bomb attacks on Afghanistan's Kabul airport, reports BBC.

The official said the number included women and children and that a number of Taliban guards had also been wounded.

BBC said at least two explosions have been reported near the Abbey Gate, being used for evacuations at Kabul airport. One blast was near the Baron Hotel, being used as a staging post by Western nations for evacuations.

A Pentagon spokesman confirmed there had been a "number of US and civilian casualties" in the attack. There are pictures of bodies at the scene.

US officials also say there were reports of gunfire.

The bombings came hours after US and UK officials told their citizens to avoid the airport, citing an imminent threat from militants.

US President Joe Biden has been briefed and is monitoring the situation, with UK PM Boris Johnson set to chair an emergency response meeting later.

Source: BBC