Afghanistan: Two British nationals and child killed in terror attack outside Kabul airport

ITV News Correspondent Juliet Bremner reports on the aftermath of the deadly Kabul explosions and the final flights out of Afghanistan


Two British nationals and the child of another British national were among those killed in an attack, claimed by terror group ISIS-K, outside Kabul airport on Thursday.

It is understood the child who died was a teenager, while those injured are an adult British national and an Afghan child with a British family.

The explosions left at least 100 people dead, including 13 US troops.

A further 143 Afghans were wounded, and 15 US troops injured as the majority of them were queueing at the airport desperate to be evacuated.

Dominic Raab confirmed the casualties in a statement on Friday.

The foreign secretary said the deadly attack underlined the dangers Afghanistan faces in the wake of the Taliban takeover and resultant evacuation scramble.

Hundreds of people gather near an evacuation control checkpoint on the perimeter of the Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul Credit: Wali Sabawoon/AP

Mr Raab said: "I was deeply saddened to learn that two British nationals and the child of another British national were killed by yesterday’s terror attack, with two more injured. “These were innocent people and it is a tragedy that as they sought to bring their loved ones to safety in the UK they were murdered by cowardly terrorists."

"We will not turn our backs on those who look to us in their hour of need, and we will never be cowed by terrorists," Mr Raab added.

Reacting to the deadly attack in a briefing yesterday, US President Joe Biden vowed to make Islamic State "pay".

President Biden confirmed the deadly attack was carried out by ISIS-K, an affiliate of the so-called Islamic State.

The group was established in January 2015 at the height of IS' power in Iraq and Syria and is thought to be the most violent of all the jihadist militant groups operating in Afghanistan.


Biden vows to make the attackers 'pay'


The president's comments came as the Ministry of Defence has confirmed 13,708 people have been evacuated by the UK since August 13.

The processing facility inside the Baron Hotel in Kabul has now been closed

The focus will now be to evacuate people who have already been processed, to free up space to bring out military personnel and diplomats.

The defence secretary expressed "deep regret" that a "few hundred" people will be left behind in Afghanistan.


Defence Secretary Ben Wallace says "every person left behind is a regret"


He told ITV News: "About 36 hours ago, this was the time we had decided before the attacks happened.

"The US are leaving on the 31st of August but they had asked our military to leave before and therefore that knocks into the whole timetable."

Mr Wallace also insisted the withdrawal has nothing to do with the Kabul airport terror attack and the main UK evacuee processing site was closed "almost exactly on schedule."