A British Armed Forces minister and the U.S. Embassy in Kabul issued a security alert early Thursday morning warning Americans to leave the Kabul airport due to a “security threat.”
“There is now very, very credible reporting of an imminent attack,” possibly within hours, British Armed Forces Minister James Heappey told the BBC.
“People are desperate, people are fearing for their lives anyway, and so I think there’s an appetite among many in the queue to take their chances,” he added.
“Because of security threats outside the gates of Kabul airport, we are advising U.S. citizens to avoid traveling to the airport and to avoid airport gates at this time unless you receive individual instructions from a U.S. government representative to do so,” an alert from the U.S. embassy in Kabul said. “U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate now should leave immediately.”
Security Alert – Embassy Kabul: U.S. citizens who are at the Abbey Gate, East Gate, or North Gate at Kabul airport should leave immediately because of security threats outside the gates.https://t.co/CYzMDU7OfS pic.twitter.com/ns5idkrFMk
— Travis Akers (@travisakers) August 25, 2021
The State Department would not comment on the exact nature of the threat, but told the Daily Caller “this is a dynamic and volatile security situation on the ground.” The Australian Foreign Ministry issued a warning of a “very high threat of terrorist attack” at the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport around the same time as the U.S. Embassy alert. (RELATED: ANALYSIS: The Fate Of The Biden Presidency Rests With The Taliban)
Urgent update from Australian foreign ministry warning of “very high threat of terrorist attack. Do not travel to Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport. If you’re in the area of the airport, move to a safe location and await further advice. “
— Andrew Beatty (@AndrewBeatty) August 25, 2021
U.S. officials were reportedly concerned about the threat of an attack by ISIS at the airport over the weekend. There are still at least 1,500 Americans remaining in the U.S. at this time, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, although other estimates have put the number much higher. U.S. officials have less than one week remaining to evacuate those Americans before President Joe Biden’s deadline of Aug. 31 expires, and as of now, the Kabul airport is the only way out.