CONNECTICUT, USA — Two suicide bombings outside of the Kabul Airport Kabul on Thursday killed at least 72 Afghans and 12 U.S. service members.
U.S. officials said 11 Marines and one Navy medic were among those who died. They said another 12 service members were wounded and warned the toll could grow. More than 140 Afghans were wounded, an Afghan official said.
President Joe Biden is expected to speak to the nation at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Connecticut Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy tweeted about the deadly bombings expressing their grief with the families of those killed.
"I am continuing to stay updated on the tragic attack at the Kabul airport," tweeted Murphy. "My heart is with the victims and their loved ones. A grateful nation will be forever indebted to the bravery and compassion of our soldiers and diplomats on the ground."
Blumenthal expressed his remorse for the victims and their families, while also saying how the United States cannot let groups like the Taliban "dictate" the timetable for the evacuation.
"We have a moral imperative to evacuate every American citizen & Afghan ally from this escalating humanitarian nightmare. Interpreters & drivers who supported our U.S. troops, women leaders, democracy advocates & journalists all risk torture & death if they are left behind," said Blumenthal."We cannot permit ISIS, Al Qaeda, or the Taliban to dictate an arbitrary timetable for protecting the lives of U.S. citizens & Afghan allies who put their lives on the line for our country."
Gov. Ned Lamont also tweeted Thursday night saying his prayers go out to the family and friends of the service members who lost their lives.
"My prayers go out to the family and friends of the military members whose lives were lost today in Afghanistan, as well as those who were injured," said Lamont. "They were doing everything they could to get Americans safely home and protect innocent civilians. Our service members are heroes."
Lamont also directed all flags to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on August 30, as a mark of respect to the victims.
Representative Rosa DeLauro released a statement:
“I am horrified by today’s heinous attack outside the Kabul airport and condemn these cowardly acts of terror. My heart breaks over the innocent lives taken today, and I mourn the loss of our brave United States military members who were killed in service of this critical mission. I pray for their families as they receive news of the loss of their loved ones and share in every American’s gratitude for their ultimate sacrifice.
“I applaud President Biden for his commitment and determination: this mission is not over. Through today’s devastation, we must remain committed to safely evacuating all American service members and citizens, Afghan allies, and the vulnerable populations that will be targeted by the Taliban.
“I will continue to work with my colleagues and the Biden Administration to ensure our military and diplomats in Afghanistan have the tools they need to successfully complete this mission. I am grateful for their steadfast courage.
“As the President said, we will not forgive, and we will not forget. In all that we do, may we honor the lives of the heroes lost today and keep their families in our prayers.”
One of the bombers struck people standing knee-deep in a wastewater canal under the sweltering sun, throwing bodies into the fetid water. Those who moments earlier had hoped to get on flights out could be seen carrying the wounded to ambulances in a daze, their own clothes darkened with blood.
A U.S. official said the complex attack was believed to have been carried out by the Islamic State group. The IS affiliate in Afghanistan is far more radical than the Taliban, who recently took control of the country in a lightning blitz and condemned the attack.
The second blast was at or near Baron Hotel, where many people, including Afghans, Britons and Americans, were told to gather in recent days before heading to the airport for evacuation.
A former Royal Marine who runs an animal shelter in Afghanistan says he and his staff were caught up in the aftermath of the blast near the airport.
“All of a sudden we heard gunshots and our vehicle was targeted, had our driver not turned around he would have been shot in the head by a man with an AK-47," Paul “Pen” Farthing told Britain’s Press Association news agency.
In Washington, Biden spent much of the morning in the secure White House Situation Room where he was briefed on the explosions and conferred with his national security team and commanders on the ground in Kabul.
---
HERE ARE MORE WAYS TO GET FOX61 NEWS
Download the FOX61 News APP
iTunes: Click here to download
Google Play: Click here to download
Stream Live on ROKU: Add the channel from the ROKU store or by searching FOX61.