Pentagon Says One Suicide Bomber Carried Out Kabul Airport Attack

US officials said on August 27 that one suicide bomber was responsible for the deadly attack at the edge of Kabul’s airport a day prior, clarifying earlier military reports of a second explosion nearby.

Thirteen US troops and dozens of Afghans were killed in the attack, which took place near Hamid Karzai International Airport’s Abbey Gate. Videos taken in recent days showed large crowds in close proximity to US forces in the vicinity of the suicide attack.

CENTCOM commander General Kenneth F McKenzie had said on Thursday that a second explosion took place in the area of the Baron Hotel, which is located close to the gate. That information was incorrect, Pentagon officials said on Friday.

“We do not believe that there was a second explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, that it was one suicide bomber,” Maj Gen Hank Taylor said at a Friday press conference. “We are not sure how that report was provided incorrectly. But we do know that it is not any surprise that in the confusion of very dynamic events like this can cause information sometimes to be misreported or garbled.”

Taylor said that evacuations conducted by the US and partners continued, with 89 flights leaving on Thursday from the airport, carrying roughly 12,500 people. Credit: US Department of Defense via Storyful