AT LEAST 13 people have been killed in two explosions outside Kabul airport.
The incidents have claimed the lives of children and adults, as well as injured soldiers and guards.
Initial reports suggest two explosions went off in a coordinated attack around the airport, with gunfire between.
They are thought to have been caused by a suicide bomber, with one explosion at a sewage canal area outside the airport where thousands of people have been waiting for applications to get out of Afghanistan to be processed.
A second explosion is thought to have happened shortly afterwards, nearby.
Some people have been waiting in the area for days with their families, trying to flee the country for fear of their lives.
John Kirby, the Pentagon press secretary, tweeted about the incident this afternoon.
We can confirm an explosion outside Kabul airport. Casualties are unclear at this time. We will provide additional details when we can.
— John Kirby (@PentagonPresSec) August 26, 2021
The UK Government Ministry of Defence also said it was trying to establish what has happened, and the impact to the evacuation effort, but added: "Our primary concern remains the safety of our personnel, British citizens and the citizens of Afghanistan.
"We are in close contact with our US and other NATO allies at an operational level on the immediate response to this incident."
The Taliban confirmed at least 13 people were dead, including children, this afternoon.
A charity working in Kabul also said at least 60 people were being treated for injuries.
In a tweet, the Ministry of Defence said: “There have been no reported UK military or UK Government casualties following the incidents in Kabul.
“UK forces are working closely with our partners to provide security and medical assistance.”
France's ambassador to Afghanistan David Martinon warned Afghans that they should get away from the airport, and said a second exploision was possible.
It is feared the incident could mark an end of the evacuation efforts by military personnel.
Boris Johnson will hold an emergency COBRA meeting today, to discuss the evacuation plan amid the latest incident.
Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, a member of the foreign affairs and national security strategy committees, said there had been “many hurt” in an attack at the Baron Hotel, where Britons and Afghans eligible for repatriation were being processed.
She said: "A bomb or attack with gun fire at northern gate of Baron’s Hotel. Worried this will devastate evacuation – so many hurt. My heart is with all those injured and killed."
Tory MP Nusrat Ghani said she was on the phone to somebody outside Kabul airport when the blast took place.
The MP tweeted: “Explosion at Kabul airport. I was on the phone to an Afghan outside the airport when he heard the explosion.
“Praying that he gets away safely and we get his family safe passage out of this nightmare.”
Stewart McDonald, the SNP's defence spokesman, said: "This is a truly awful development that many predicted. The details of the impact are still coming through but this is a dark, sobering and angering day in amongst all this chaos that could have been avoided."
Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the attack outside Kabul airport was “appalling and cowardly”.
She tweeted: “Devastating reports from Kabul. This is an appalling and cowardly attack on those already fleeing unimaginable horrors. My thoughts are with the Afghan people and the British, US and international personnel who have remained at the airport to save as many lives as possible.”
This morning the UK and US were warning people not to travel to the airport, with Armed forces minister James Heappey saying there is “very credible reporting” of an “imminent” and “severe” threat to Kabul airport by ISIS-K, a particularly brutal splinter group of ISIS.
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