Biden says the US will ‘hunt down’ Islamic State leaders responsible; IS claims responsibility for bomb explosions at Kabul airport’s Abbey gate; American forces bracing for further attacks
- Civilians and soldiers dead after two suicide bombs strike Kabul airport
- Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul airport blasts
- Boris Johnson: UK will continue with final stages of Kabul airlift
- Kabul airport attacks: what we know so far
- ‘It was like doomsday’: wait at Kabul airport descends into terror
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On Friday morning, New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern announced New Zealand was ending further flights into Kabul, due to the ongoing threat of terrorist attacks. The announcement followed an attack at the airport on Thursday that killed least 60 Afghans and 13 US soldiers.
Australia has also ended its airlift. The US has said it would press on with evacuation efforts despite the attack.
Related: ‘Total betrayal’: Afghan interpreters shocked as New Zealand ends Kabul evacuation
Slightly more information on that Reuters line from a few minutes ago:
The evacuation of civilians from Kabul has been accelerated after overnight attacks near the airport, a Western security official stationed at the airport told Reuters on Friday.
Flights are taking off regularly, said the official, who declined to be identified.