Got out. Four or 500 people here and the explosion is really powerful and half were held into the water and others on the ground outside. We carried the wounded on stretchers and microbes are ready. It comes as thousands had still been gathering outside the airport despite clear warnings of an imminent attack and there are warnings of more possible attacks the uk says it will continue its evacuation programme. We are able to continue with the programme and the way that we have been renting it out according to the timetable that we have got and thats what we are going to do. Theres been a double Bomb Attack on Kabul Airport where crowds were gathered in the hope of boarding an Evacuation Flight to escape afghanistan. A senior afghan Health Official has told the bbc at least 60 people have been killed. 140 injured. Their loss weighs heavily on us all and able to talk about that as you go on. We continue to focus on the protection of our voices and the evacuees. As the evacuation continues. Let me be clear. While we are saddened by the loss of life, both us and afghan, we will continue to execute the mission. 0ur both us and afghan, we will continue to execute the mission. Our mission is to evacuate us citizens and special Immigrant Visa Holders and the us Embassy Staff and afghans at risk. Despite This attack, we are continuing the mission. The evacuation and as of today approximately 5000 evacuees a reading airlift. Since august the 14th, we have a factory for more than 104,000 civilians. 0ver 14th, we have a factory for more than 104,000 civilians. Over 66,005 united states and over 37,000 by our allies and partners. That includes bringing out about 5000 americans. As the Secretary Of State said yesterday, we believe that there are about A Thousand, maybe more than A Thousand American Citizens left at This point. We are doing everything we can with our Department Of State partners to reach out to them and to help them leave. If they want to believe and remember not everybody wants to leave. Yesterday, we brought in over 500 American Citizens. It would be difficult to overestimate the number of unusual challenges and competing demands that our forces on the ground face. The threat to our forces particularly from isis is very real as he had seen today. I would also like to express the sense of pride i have ended it determined and professional way that our forces and deliver the results we talked about in my opening remarks and the number of people we have been able to extract from afghanistan. It would also be remiss of me not to mention the contributions of our marriott many Coalition Partners and they stayed with us on the ground and also the international partners who supported the evacuation. In many soldiers and airmen and postcards who support This operation down ranch and across the central command and European Command and Northern Command areas of responsibility. Moreover, This evacuation could simply not have been done without the amazing flexibility of the us Transportation Command and the airlift provided by The Voice and not only i would like to thank the hosts that are providing access to the facilities for the Processing And Care and feeding of our evacuees. In i also need to acknowledge the temporary suffering of some of our evacuees had to endure. Please know we continue to execute our number one mission which is to get as many American Citizens and evacuees as possible out of afghanistan. We also continue to expand the capacity and intermediate facilities to ensure a safe, sanitary and humane conditions for our evacuees. While continuing to look for ultimate race of processing and transferred to the united states or other destinations. I would like to Close Out my Remarks Today by taking a moment to describe their heroism that our marines, soldiers, and sailors are exhibiting as they screen the people who are coming out of the airfield. This is close up work and the breath of the person you are searching. While we have overwatch in place, we still have to touch the close of the person coming in. Thank you i think you can appreciate the Courage And Dedication necessary to do This job. And to do it time after time. Remember that we have screened over 140,000 people. Finally, iwould like to offer my profound condolences to the families of our servicemen and women and afghan civilians who lost their lives today. We have put to more than 5000 us Service Members at risk to save as many civilians as he can. Its a noble Mission And Today we have seen first hand how dangerous that mission is. Isis will not deter us from accomplishing the mission. I can assure you of that. While americans can and should be proud of the Armed Forces who are facing This head on with their international partners and all our friends. And we appreciate your thoughts and prayers for all our servicemembers who are carrying This-mission'>This Mission today. I am now ready to take questions. Thank ou for now ready to take questions. Thank you for taking now ready to take questions. Thank you for taking the now ready to take questions. Thank you for taking the time now ready to take questions. Thank you for taking the time to now ready to take questions. Thank you for taking the time to do now ready to take questions. Thank you for taking the time to do This. | you for taking the time to do This. Can you you for taking the time to do This. Can you give us your assessment of the isis can you give us your assessment of the isis threats going forward . What are you the isis threats going forward . What are you seeing on the ground now . Does are you seeing on the ground now . Does space are you seeing on the ground now . Does space cut the evacuation short do you does space cut the evacuation short do you believe and are people able to get do you believe and are people able to get onto the airport now and then finally, to get onto the airport now and then finally, the to get onto the airport now and then finally, the president has warned that any finally, the president has warned that any attacks against the us would that any attacks against the us would be answered. Well This attack be answered militarily by the us . A be answered militarily by the us . Number of questions there. Let me take them in order. The attack from isis threats from isis has been extremely real. He saw it manifested itself in the last few hours at an actual attack. We believe if they desire to continue does attacks and we expect them to continue. We are doing everything we can to be prepared for those attacks. That includes reaching out to the taliban who are actually providing the Security Cordon around the airfield to make sure they know what we expect them to do to protect us and continue to co ordinate with them as they go forward. We are continuing to bring people onto the airfield. We bought a number of buses aboard the airfield over the last couple of hours until he will continue to process and the plan is designed to operate its under stress and under attack. And we will continue to do that. We will co ordinate very carefully to make sure it is safe for American Citizens to come to the airfield and if its not he will tell them to hold and we will work on ways to try to get into the airfield. Ithink on ways to try to get into the airfield. I think our mission connected and up until we terminate operations at some point towards the end of the month. And i think we will do all those things as we go forward. Let me come back to base. We talked about going after isis. Yes. If we can find who is associated with This, we will go after them. We have been clear all along that we will retain the right to operate against isis in afghanistan and we are working hard right now to determine attributions and who is associated and we will be prepared to take action. 24 7 we are looking for them. 2 . Prepared to take action. 24 7 we are looking for them. Looking for them. 27 casualties is 12 dad. Looking for them. 27 casualties is 12 dead did looking for them. 27 casualties is 12 dad. Did you looking for them. 27 casualties is 12 dad. Did you explain looking for them. 27 casualties is 12 dad. Did you explain the 12 dad. Did you explain the Circumstances of these attacks which resulted Circumstances of these attacks which resulted in Circumstances of these attacks which resulted in such high casualties for the us . Resulted in such high casualties for the us . First of all, you understand that we the us . First of all, you understand that we are the us . First of all, you understand that we are still investigating the Circumstances. That we are still investigating the Circumstances. What i can tell you is This. Circumstances. What i can tell you is This the Circumstances. What i can tell you is This. The attack Circumstances. What i can tell you is This. The attack occurred Circumstances. What i can tell you is This. The attack occurred at Circumstances. What i can tell you is This. The attack occurred at the | is This. The attack occurred at the gate and at the gate we have to check people before they get onto the airfield. We have to ensure they are not carrying a bomb or any other kind of weapon that could nakedly onto an aircraft. And you cant do that with standoffs, you have to get very close to that person. So while the Air Base in itself is surrounded and thereby incurred in, we have to protect ourselves and at Peace Interface points committees gates where people come on the airfield, there is no substitute for a young Man Or Woman standing up there conducting a search of that person differently let them out. The taliban have conducted surface before they get to that point and sometimes the sections have been good and sometimes not. I will notes that before This attack we have passed 104 people through so This attack is one too many and we will evaluate what happened and we will find ralph to get that chair and the key thing is you dont want to let somebody on an aeroplane carrying a bomb because that could result in a massive loss of life. If an Aeroplane Right to be destroyed so you have to do This eric chase. We work with our partners on the ground and conduct the search is but ultimately americans have got to be endangered to do those searches. There is no other way to do it and i cannot tell you how impressed i am with the daily heroism of the men and women out there doing This work. Typically soldiers, sailors and marines that are doing the work and they are right up close to thousands of people you see the images. And to be able to get up and do it day after day is remarkable. And This time it looks like somebody got close to us and we will find out why and include our procedures. It is 12 servicemembers dying and no one feels that more closely and more directly than me and anyone else in the Chain Of Command and we recognise the need to continue as vehicle forwards. Same time, there is tension there. That is why we are there. We are not there to defend ourselves. We are there to defend ourselves. We are there to defend ourselves while the process American Citizens first but also the other categories of people i mentioned. Get into a place where we can fry them out to a safer and better future. 50 them out to a safer and better future. ,. ,. , future. So This Suicide Bomber was auoin future. So This Suicide Bomber was going through future. So This Suicide Bomber was going through that future. So This Suicide Bomber was going through that gate future. So This Suicide Bomber was going through that gate being going through that gate being searched, checked, by us Service Members searched, checked, by us Service Members when he detonated his best . That would members when he detonated his best . That would be the Working Assumption. I know he did not get inside. It was at the Interface Points where they try to come in read This attack occurred. We dont know more right now. You understand we are investigating the applet right now overfocus is we have other threats and extremely active threats in the airfield and we want to make sure we had taken the steps you need to take out there. There are focus is on that. In the next few hours we will learn a lot more about what happened here and he will be able to share that with you. Right now our focus is ensuring that another attack of This nature does not occur because as you know typically the pattern is multiple attacks. Can you tell us a little pattern is multiple attacks. Can you tell us a little Bit Pattern is multiple attacks. Can you tell us a little bit more pattern is multiple attacks. Can you tell us a little bit more about tell us a little bit more about these tell us a little bit more about these extremely real additional threats these extremely real additional threats from isis . Is it a concern about threats from isis . Is it a concern about Moises Suicide attacks and also about some of the steps that You Niay also about some of the steps that you may be taking to mitigate future attacks you may be taking to mitigate future attacks. Would it include putting us troops attacks. Would it include putting us troops were marines at the gate or outside troops were marines at the gate or outside the airport for additional Perimeter Security and then finally with all Perimeter Security and then finally with all of Perimeter Security and then finally with all of these is there any discussion about sending any additional us troops to the Kabul Airport additional us troops to the Kabul Airport for additional Security Measures . We airport for additional Security Measures . Airport for additional Security Measures . ~. , airport for additional Security Measures . , measures . We answered the last part of our measures . We answered the last part of your question measures . We answered the last part of your question first. Measures . We answered the last part of your question first. We measures . We answered the last part of your question first. We have of your question first. We have before us is we need to protect ourselves there. And in constant dialogue with the secretary and if i need anything else i will be talking to him immediately but we have what we need to protect ourselves. Lets talk about the threats. Very real threats. Very what we call, tactical, oran threats. Very what we call, tactical, or an end and could occur at any Moment And Range from rocket attacks. We know would like wild the rocket is india we have that protection against that. And the Gun Systems and they been very familiar with and they are very effective against these attacks and we are well positioned and fear we will be in good shape when that kind of attack occurs. We know they aim to get This Suicide Attack in them if they can end, small vehicle to a large vehicle and theyre working those options and we have seen a vast rearing Suicide Attacker. All of those things we would look at. The other thing we do is we share versions of This information with the taliban. So that they can actually do some searching out there so we believe some attacks have been thwarted by them. He had been doing This for a long time. This is an attack that has been carried out and we believe its possible but others have been thwarted. We cut down the information we get the taliban and we give them time to prevent these attacks. The other thing we try to do is push out the boundary even further. So we dont get large crowds massing at the gate. We had a larger crowd there then we would like which goes to show you that the system is not perfect. But we have gained a large element of standoff at other gates and we are going to keep that kind of standoff in place. Because you know the standoff for attacks like This is always the best advantage and unfortunately you dont have the opportunity given the geography of the ground that we are on to gain that kind of standoff. We will close off their question by saying we take the threat of these attacks very seriously but we are working them very hard and doing a variety of things and we have got as the you know Attack Helicopters on the you know Attack Helicopters on the ground that we are trying to take a look and they have very good thermal and optical Imaging Systems and we have Aircraft Overhead that have also had very good Imaging Systems and we have Unmanned Aircraft that had the ability to look. All of these systems are being applied in defence of the airfield and on a continual basis and vetted tjy and on a continual basis and vetted by the intelligence that we receive and we also use the taliban as a tool to protect us as much as possible. Alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doinu alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doing This alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doing This. Can alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doing This. Can you alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doing This. Can you give alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doing This. Can you give us alex, are you there . Yes. Thank you for doing This. Can you give us a for doing This. Can you give us a sense for doing This. Can you give us a sense of for doing This. Can you give us a sense of where you are in Casualty Notification Sense of where you are in Casualty Notification for these folks on the ground . Notification for these folks on the ground . How long you expect it to take in ground . How long you expect it to take in such a large number. And also take in such a large number. And also can take in such a large number. And also can you take in such a large number. And also can you tell us about how the forces also can you tell us about how the forces have also can you tell us about how the forces have reacted. You said Moira Standoff forces have reacted. You said Moira Standoff at forces have reacted. You said Moira Standoff at This point but what are other standoff at This point but what are other measures you are taking to increase other measures you are taking to Increase Security after the attack . I Increase Security after the attack . I believe Increase Security after the attack . I believe that process is ongoing but i do not have visibility. My visibility is fully formed against the day to day that we face but there are other people that can answer that question for a year and i am not that person. So in terms of practical themes that we are doing. Again, we reached out to the taliban and we need to continue to push out the Security Perimeter and be identified ballads that we would like tentacles and identify they would be willing to close those billets because of the assets the threat of the suicide barn vehicle. We want to deduce the possibility of one of those vehicles getting close and so we are moving very aggressively to do that and we talked about the overwatch that we have in place but i will do it again. We have our Unmanned Aircraft and other Unmanned Systems that have very good optical and other means of looking down so we look at whats happening and he try to identify patterns and we have people to take a look at that. We also have aircraft that we fly locally that i mentioned a few moments ago as well as other manned aircraft that come off the coast as well as us Air Force Aircraft that we bring up from out of afghanistan. Everything ranging and as you know the gunship is a very highly capable Targeting System and we now from long experience that visible demonstration of these kinds tends to dissuade the attacker because they know in order to do a deal will strike them immediately. We will be prepared to do that should it become necessary to defend the base. We are looking very hard and we are in a period of heightened whining right now and working through that as aggressively as he can. Flan now and working through that as aggressively as he can. Now and working through that as aggressively as he can. Can you tell us if ou aggressively as he can. Can you tell us if you think aggressively as he can. Can you tell us if you think that aggressively as he can. Can you tell us if you think that you aggressively as he can. Can you tell us if you think that you are aggressively as he can. Can you tell us if you think that you are a us if you think that you are a recommendation for staying after August Recommendation for staying after August 31 recommendation for staying after August 31 we change . 0r Recommendation for staying after August 31 we change . Or are you concerned August 31 we change . Or are you concerned and also that us military and taliban have been coordinating very closely on various things. Do we use very closely on various things. Do we use them trust the taliban and is it possible we use them trust the taliban and is it possible that they let This happen . I it possible that they let This haen . � it possible that they let This ha en . , � 4. ,. , � happen . I dont know. I dont think Theres Anything happen . I dont know. I dont think Theres Anything that happen . I dont know. I dont think Theres Anything that can happen . I dont know. I dont think Theres Anything that can convince l Theres Anything that can convince me that they let it happen. Whether or not i trust them its not necessarily a word i use very carefully. You have heard me say before its not what they say, its what they do. They have a practical reason for wanting us to get out of here by the 31st Of August and they want to be cleaned the airfield. We want to be cleaned the airfield. We want to be cleaned the airfield. We want to get out by that date if it would be possible to do so. We share a common purpose and as long as you keep that common purpose aligned, they have been useful to work with. They have cut some of our Security Concerns down and they have been useful to work with going forward. Now long term i dont know what thats going to be. I will tell you anytime you did an Evacuation Plan a base you expect to be attacked so we expect you thought This would happen sooner or later. And we are prepared to continue the mission. We had that Bash Dialogue with our Chain Of Command and i will not be able to share what my advice has been and we can continue to conduct that mission. Even while receiving attacks like This. Mission. Even while receiving attacks like This. Even thats 40 Da S attacks like This. Even thats 40 days you attacks like This. Even thats 40 days you are attacks like This. Even thats 40 days you are just attacks like This. Even thats 40 days you are just four attacks like This. Even thats 40 days you are just four days attacks like This. Even thats 40 days you are just four days i i attacks like This. Even thats 40 i days you are just four days i sell from days you are just four days i sell from us days you are just four days i sell from us leaving and i hope soon you have to from us leaving and i hope soon you have to start from us leaving and i hope soon you have to start diminishing the Evacuation Flights if you can continue Evacuation Flights if you can continue to make space and time for the niilitary continue to make space and time for the Military Retrograde that is the withdrawal of troops there. Without Nettina Withdrawal of troops there. Without caettin into withdrawal of troops there. Without getting into Specifics Withdrawal of troops there. Without getting into specifics the withdrawal of troops there. Without getting into specifics the Plan Withdrawal of troops there. Without getting into specifics the plan is getting into specifics the plan is designed to maximise evacuees even as he began to prepare to drive down the force on the ground. So we recognise there is a need to balance the two. It willjot down as we get closer to the end when we will begin to draw down those flights i want to emphasise again its designed to maximise pushing people out even as we configured The Voice and continue to defend ourselves and get ready to bring out our own equipment and Military Personnel. If i can follow up Military Personnel. If i can follow up on that we have to develop alternative routes beyond those that you have to get the remaining americans who want to leave safely to the airport. I will tell you that we have worked over the last week and brought in Hundreds Of Americans By Working Alternate Routes to get in there. By establishing contact with them and directing them down steady different ways to get to the airport and it does that on the ground and very effectively in coordination with the overall commander so we continue to do that. Thats not something we will begin now. We will continue to do that up until the last month. Until the last month. Jennifer griffin , until the last month. Jennifer griffing. Fox until the last month. Jennifer griffing, fox news. Until the last month. Jennifer griffing, fox news. Was until the last month. Jennifer| griffing, fox news. Was there until the last month. Jennifer griffing, fox news. Was there one or two suicide griffing, fox news. Was there one or two Suicide Bombers at the abbey dates two Suicide Bombers at the abbey dates and two Suicide Bombers at the abbey dates and times you say for certain it was dates and times you say for certain it was a dates and times you say for certain it was a nfail dates and times you say for certain it was a Mail Bomber . And can you ive it was a Mail Bomber . And can you give us it was a Mail Bomber . And can you give us more it was a Mail Bomber . And can you give us more detail about the second explosion give us more detail about the second explosion that occurred at the hotel . Explosion that occurred at the hotel . Was that a Car Bomb or was that also hotel . Was that a Car Bomb or was that also a hotel . Was that a Car Bomb or was that also a Suicide Bomber . Finally, the there that also a Suicide Bomber . Finally, the there are State Department employees that are Side By side. Where employees that are Side By side. Where there any other us citizens killed where there any other us citizens killed in where there any other us citizens killed in the attack and why are the marines killed in the attack and why are the marines so killed in the attack and why are the marines so close together that so many marines so close together that so many were killed in one strike . We think many were killed in one strike . We think one many were killed in one strike . We think one Suicide Bomb at Abbey Gates, think one Suicide Bomb at Abbey Gates, dont know if its male or female gates, dont know if its male or female. Dont have that information. Dont female. Dont have that information. Dont know female. Dont have that information. Dont know much about the second bomb dont know much about the second bomb except one went off in the Vicinity Bomb except one went off in the vicinity of bomb except one went off in the vicinity of the hotel which is a Bp Bunker Vicinity of the hotel which is a Bp Bunker Structure and as far as i know Bunker Structure and as far as i know there Bunker Structure and as far as i know there were no Uk Military casualties know there were no Uk Military casualties as a result of that. There casualties as a result of that. There may have been afghan casualties and im sure there were but It Casualties and im sure there were but it will casualties and im sure there were but it will take us a bit of time to actually but it will take us a bit of time to actually learn how many afghans and we took actually learn how many afghans and we took some of them on board the installation we took some of them on board the installation and many of them were taken installation and many of them were taken to installation and many of them were taken to hospitals itself thats what taken to hospitals itself thats what i taken to hospitals itself thats what i get on Open Source but we are trying what i get on Open Source but we are trying to what i get on Open Source but we are trying to gather more information. The last trying to gather more information. The last point is i dont know the size of the last point is i dont know the size of the the last point is i dont know the size of the bomb and the size of the Bomb Size of the bomb and the size of the bomb is size of the bomb and the size of the bomb is directly related to how many People Bomb is directly related to how many people are bomb is directly related to how many people are going to be affected by the blast people are going to be affected by the Blast Radius of the weapon. So we are the Blast Radius of the weapon. So we are going to investigate that. As i we are going to investigate that. As i have we are going to investigate that. As i have noted before, you have the interface i have noted before, you have the Interface Points at these dates and Someone Interface points at these dates and someone has to let someone else in the Eyes Someone has to let someone else in the eyes and decide a are ready and we will the eyes and decide a are ready and we will find the eyes and decide a are ready and we will find out exactly what happened beyond that. I would not want to happened beyond that. I would not want to speculate at This point. Any other want to speculate at This point. My other American Citizens from the State Department that were killed . None that i am aware of now. First of all, none that i am aware of now. First of all. Can none that i am aware of now. First of all. Can you none that i am aware of now. First of all, can you tell none that i am aware of now. First of all, can you tell me, none that i am aware of now. First of all, can you tell me, we none that i am aware of now. F st of all, can you tell me, we have heard reports of a third and possibly fourth attack in Kabul Today, can you confirm those and also can you tell us how exactly are you still conducting these evacuations . Are you concerned about threats to the aircraft . The locations threats to the aircraft . The locations of threats to the aircraft . The locations of other threats to the aircraft . The locations of other attacks we have not been locations of other attacks we have not been able to run that information down. So we get Open Source reporting on it but i cannot Open Source reporting on it but i cannot confirm that there had been other cannot confirm that there had been other attacks in kabul and we continue other attacks in kabul and we continue to take a look at that very hard continue to take a look at that very hard the continue to take a look at that very hard. The safety of our aircraft coming hard. The safety of our aircraft coming in hard. The safety of our aircraft coming in and out is of paramount importance coming in and out is of paramount importance because every opportunity there for importance because every opportunity there for 450 or more people to die if you there for 450 or more people to die if you have there for 450 or more people to die if you have a there for 450 or more people to die if you have a significant mishap of the aircraft if you have a significant mishap of the aircraft. We know that isis may like to the aircraft. We know that isis may like to get the aircraft. We know that isis may like to get out to those aircraft if they can like to get out to those aircraft if they can. We dont believe they have they can. We dont believe they have the men they can. We dont believe they have the men capable of doing it. They have the men capable of doing it. They have taken the men capable of doing it. They have taken shots at our aircraft on occasion have taken shots at our aircraft on occasion and thats going to continue occasion and thats going to continue. As you know, Military Aircraft continue. As you know, Military Aircraft have a variety of Self Defence Aircraft have a variety of Self Defence systems which the Charter Aircraft Defence systems which the Charter Aircraft and other aircraft coming in that aircraft and other aircraft coming in that do aircraft and other aircraft coming in that do not have those systems. We look in that do not have those systems. We look very carefully at the Approach Pattern and the Departure Pattern Approach Pattern and the Departure Pattern of Approach Pattern and the Departure Pattern of that runway to see if we see any pattern of that runway to see if we see any sign of something that might pose a see any sign of something that might pose a threat to aircraft. Thats one of pose a threat to aircraft. Thats one of the pose a threat to aircraft. Thats one of the things we look at religiously throughout the day and throughout the night as we conduct operations. Its the only way we look operations. Its the only way we look at operations. Its the only way we look at people out of there. We are sensitive look at people out of there. We are sensitive of look at people out of there. We are sensitive of threats to our aircraft~ sensitive of threats to our aircraft. ~. ,. , sensitive of threats to our aircraft sensitive of threats to our aircraft. ~. ,. ,. ,. , aircraft. We have to keep moving and take one more aircraft. We have to keep moving and take one more question aircraft. We have to keep moving and take one more question and aircraft. We have to keep moving and take one more question and give aircraft. We have to keep moving and take one more question and give the| take one more question and give The General or a class to Close Out. That general or a class to Close Out. Git This moment in time, how do you believe the Suicide Bomber made it through several checkpoints whether it would tell about afghan voices, do you believe it was a failure or they were able to eat a i make it to they were able to eat a i make it to the marines . The marines . Clearly if they were able to get the marines . Clearly if they were able to get up the marines . Clearly if they were able to get up to the marines . Clearly if they were able to get up to the the marines . Clearly if they were able to get up to the entry the marines . Clearly if they were able to get up to the Entry Point| the marines . Clearly if they were l able to get up to the Entry Point it was a able to get up to the Entry Point it was a failure by taliban or some of those was a failure by taliban or some of those guys was a failure by taliban or some of those guys are very scrupulously good those guys are very scrupulously good and those guys are very scrupulously good and some of them are not. I dont good and some of them are not. I dont know good and some of them are not. I dont know the answer to that question dont know the answer to that cuestion. ,. , dont know the answer to that question question. You are watching a briefin question. You are watching a briefing at question. You are watching a briefing at the question. You are watching a briefing at the pentagon. Question. You are watching a | briefing at the pentagon. This question. You are watching a I Briefing at the pentagon. This is bbc news. For some of those watching a pbs in the us he will say goodbye to everyone else he will continue watching. Brute to everyone else he will continue watchinu. ~. , watching. We will let The General closeout watching. We will let The General closeout. Any watching. We will let The General closeout. Any closing watching. We will let The General closeout. Any Closing Thoughtsl watching. We will let The General. Closeout. Any closing thoughts you Close Out. Any closing thoughts you might have . Closeout. Any closing thoughts you might have . Might have . Again i would like to sa its a might have . Again i would like to say its a hard might have . Again i would like to say its a hard day might have . Again i would like to say its a hard day and might have . Again i would like to say its a hard day and the might have . Again i would like to say its a hard day and the Thing L might have . Again i would like to say its a hard day and the thing i | say its a hard day and the thing i come say its a hard day and the thing i come back say its a hard day and the thing i come back to is the remarkable professionals that the force on the ground professionals that the force on the ground is professionals that the force on the ground is shimming and ultimately disclaiming planes in particular. You have disclaiming planes in particular. You have to get very up close and personal you have to get very up close and personal to you have to get very up close and personal to the people you are bringing personal to the people you are bringing out. There is no way to do that safety bringing out. There is no way to do that safety from a distance. To make sure its as safe as possible to make sure its as safe as possible for our folks on the ground john, possible for our folks on the ground john, thank possible for our folks on the ground john, thank you very much. Possible for our folks on the ground john, thank you very much. Thank you all, john, thank you very much. Thank you all. Appreciate john, thank you very much. Thank you all, appreciate it. John, thank you very much. Thank you all, appreciate it. And john, thank you very much. Thank you all, appreciate it. And with john, thank you very much. Thank you all, appreciate it. And with that all, appreciate it. And with that the pentagon present finishes. We heard from General Mckenzie and john kirby. Just well that briefing was continuing over the last few minutes the islamic State Group has claimed responsibility for these attacks at Kabul Airport. Thats according to the islamic slate telegram account. If you are justjoining the al give you a full recap of what we heard from the Pentagon Briefing in a moment. First of all lets beak to a Member Of Parliament here in the uk, chair of the foreign affairs committee. Thank you forjoining us. What is your reaction to what we are seeing happening in Kabul Today . For seeing happening in kabultoday . For us all, seeing happening in Kabul Today . Fr . Us all, its absolutely tragic. And my heart goes out to notjust the us marines who were brutally killed in This unacceptable attack. But to their families, This unacceptable attack. But to theirfamilies, of course This unacceptable attack. But to their families, of course all the afghans were killed as well. This is sadly become the Choke Point on the Exit Route of afghanistan. That was take a number of months ago. It is now leading to the very concentration of violence that we are seeing, sadly. 50 concentration of violence that we are seeing, sadly. Concentration of violence that we are seeing, sadly. So you would draw are seeing, sadly. So you would draw a direct connection are seeing, sadly. So you would draw a direct connection between are seeing, sadly. So you would draw a direct connection between the a direct connection between the nature of the withdrawal in This atrocity in Kabul Today . Ihla nature of the withdrawal in This atrocity in Kabul Today . Nature of the withdrawal in This atrocity in Kabul Today . Atrocity in kabultoday . No but i would draw atrocity in kabultoday . No but i would draw a atrocity in kabultoday . No but i would draw a direct atrocity in kabultoday . No but i would draw a direct Connection L would draw a direct connection between the victory of the taliban and the partnership of terrorist organisations. This is not news to us. Its the reason we went to afghanistan in the first place. Some eole afghanistan in the first place. Some people might afghanistan in the first place. Some people might look afghanistan in the first place. Some people might look at afghanistan in the first place. Some people might look at the afghanistan in the first place. Some people might look at the situation and many commentators have pointed out that at the moment the salamander largely lined with the us. If This is the us islamic state as they say thats not something the taliban would want to happen. Thea;r taliban would want to happen. They sa that taliban would want to happen. They say that but taliban would want to happen. They say that but yet taliban would want to happen. Tie say that but yet somehow taliban would want to happen. Tte say that but yet somehow theyve managed to live beside them for the last 20 years and not call them out. And in terms of where they uk is now with its evacuation with its policy on afghanistan what would you like to see from borisjohnson and his government . T to see from Boris Johnson and his government . Government . I think the reality is that we are government . I think the reality is that we are now government . I think the reality is that we are now in government . I think the reality is that we are now in the government . I think the reality is that we are now in the closing that we are now in the closing stages of our relationship with the internal afghanistan, if you like. At the opening stages of our relationship with the wider community. By that i mean notjust the region but the whole world the reality is there a many other groups that have drawn inspiration from This book to harass him in the north of nigeria, alqaeda is the islamic and we need to be making absolutely certain that what we havent just done is thrown a tonne of onto the small embers of a very vicious fire. Youve spoken very passionately about how the last two weeks have made you feel as someone who served in afghanistan. To the Events Today in afghanistan. To the Events Today in any way alter your view of not just your contribution but the contribution of many thousands of people from the uk, the us and other allies . ,. ,. ,. , , allies . They do leave me absolutely heartbroken allies . They do leave me absolutely heartbroken. The allies . They do leave me absolutely heartbroken. The last allies . They do leave me absolutely heartbroken. The last combat heartbroken. The last Combat Casualty for the uk was in 2013, the last one before today for the us was a number of years ago. Here weve got 12 marine skills. This isnt necessary, we didnt need to be here. We had two one half thousand us troops, 750,000 british troops in terms that have a carrier for the us. Thats a couple more than we have on ceremonial duty for the uk. Thats not a serious group contributing to situation, thats South Korea with 30 Thousand odd snipers where weve got 30,000. Military terms its marginal. We didnt need to do This. Band military terms its marginal. We didnt need to do This. Military terms its marginal. We didnt need to do This. And yet here we are. Didnt need to do This. And yet here we are when didnt need to do This. And yet here we are. When you didnt need to do This. And yet here we are. When you say didnt need to do This. And yet here we are. When you say we didnt need to do This. And yet here we are. When you say we though, l didnt need to do This. And yet here. We are. When you say we though, once Joe Biden had decided to pull out american troops, do you really think your conservative colleague and prime Minister Borisjohnson had any other option but to follow suit . Trio. Other option but to follow suit . No, he didnt have other option but to follow suit . Tip, he didnt have any other option but we went in together and we should have been part of the Decision Making Process together. It seems that weve gone for American First To America alone. Not really a great advert for Coalition Building or alliance networks. When we heard america is back at the beginning of This term it now seems like we are here in america is back home and Without You. Here in america is back home and Without You here in america is back home and Without You. Here in america is back home and without ou. ,. , Without You. Thank you very much for oininu us Without You. Thank you very much for joining us here Without You. Thank you very much for joining us here on Without You. Thank you very much for joining us here on bbc Without You. Thank you very much for joining us here on bbc news. Without you. Thank you very much for joining us here on bbc news. We Without You. Thank you very much for joining us here on bbc news. Wejust had a half an Hour Briefing from the pentagon watching all that was the bbc� s State Department. Barbara, we heard an awful lot of detail and a half an hour. I wonder what you would pick out for people who werent watching. T would pick out for people who werent watching. Would pick out for people who werent watching. I had picked out the Confirmation Werent watching. I had picked out the confirmation of werent watching. I had picked out the confirmation of the werent watching. I had picked out the confirmation of the number. Werent watching. I had picked out the confirmation of the number of| the confirmation of the number of casualties, he said 12 servicemembers have been killed and more than 15 injured. He said that the mission continued, the Evacuation Mission continued, the Evacuation Mission continue and gave no indication that it was going to stop or be shortened because of the attack. He said that there were about 500 on the ramp, as he called it, ready to get onto a plane. That was still going forward. He also said that the threat was very real and that it continued. He said he believed that islamic state and had assessed, the military has assessed but it was called the not carried out by islamic State Group. That a desire to continue and expected the group to continue attacks the pattern is multiple. They were concerned that more attacks like the ones happened which was an individual person walking up to the Interface Point at the gate and blowing himself up. He said they were worried about Vehicle Bombs and they were also worried about rocket attacks. He gave quite interesting and thorough detail about the danger and thorough detail about the danger and how This will of played out. He said that the final step for evacuees to get into the airport was a close up screening that had to be carried out by us Military Personnel and they had to get very close up. Is said you could feel the breath of the other person on them. That was just a danger they couldnt avoid, he said. He said his Working Assumption was that the attacker had been part of that or at least the attack had happened at that place. But he also said they would have more details about exactly what happened later in the week for that right now they are very focused on making sure that it didnt happen again. And with regards to that he talked about various Security Measures. He said that they had asked the taliban to close certain roads. He said that they had all kinds of aircraft, eric doctors, Unmanned Aircraft and other warplane with Imaging System helicopters. He said they were trying to push out the boundaries from around the gates which have been more successful than some of the other Gate And Wasnt at This one at that particular time. Finally, he talked about the coordination with the taliban. He said they had shared information with the taliban about specific threats. Not everything he said but what they needed to know to stop them. He felt that they had been able to stop, taliban had been able to stop some planned attacks. And he said they had screened 140,000 people so far and This implying suggesting that they had managed to do so safely until Theres Attack took place. And they had expected This was a have a noncompetitive mission we expect to get attacked. And now it has happened. Im interested that you picked up on those comments about the taliban. I do note it down that General Mckenzie said they were coordinating with the taliban and at the Moment America and the taliban have a common purpose for This to be done by the 31st Of August and he said that the taliban has been useful to work with. Which are remarkable words when we consider these are the last few days of a 20 Year Mission that began with an effort to get rid of the taliban. It is that began with an effort to get rid of the taliban. Of the taliban. It is remarkable. It shows how of the taliban. It is remarkable. It shows how things of the taliban. It is remarkable. It shows how things have of the taliban. It is remarkable. It shows how things have changed. Shows how things have changed from the beginning it shows on the right hand,it the beginning it shows on the right hand, it shows that the americans have to respond pragmatically because they have in essence lost the war and they are leaving. In the taliban have won. It also shows that the taliban a change because they are willing to have This kind of accommodating arrangement with the americans. Thejoint interest accommodating arrangement with the americans. The joint interest that he talked about was that the americans wanted to get all their people out by the end of august. In the taliban wanted them to lead by then because they wanted to take control of the airfield. They also i think are waiting until the americans leave be for they start, announced the government and they just see it as a kind of point where they can move forward without they are going to run the country. It was quite a remarkable statement. It was also interesting that from his Point Of View as a security man, as a Military Man that he talked about how the taliban were cooperating on the security level. That they had based on the information provided stop some attacks, he believed. And they were also taking steps like closing out the roads that the us had asked for because they were afraid of Vehicle Bombs. That sort of detail about how they were working together was quite revealing. Working together was quite revealing working together was quite revealina. ~ ,. ,. Revealing. Thank you very much indeed for revealing. Thank you very much indeed for taking revealing. Thank you very much indeed for taking us revealing. Thank you very much indeed for taking us through. Revealing. Thank you very much l indeed for taking us through what weve heard from the pentagon there. Barbara in washington, dc. Let me just recap what has happened in Kabul Today. There been two explosions both close to the perimeter of Kabul Airport. These are both not been claimed by the islamic State Group. A senior health afghan Health Official has told at least 60 people have been killed and 140 mac have been injured. Also the pentagon has confirmed that 12 us troops had died. The pentagon says there were two separate attacks, one happened close to the airports navigate for them in a briefing it was confirmed that was a Suicide Attack. The other was at a nearby aaron hotel. In the briefing they did not give confirmation of the nature of that attack. We know that some western countries have used a hotel as a Staging Point for evacuation since This airlift began, since the Taliban Takeover 11 days ago. If you look closely in the centre of the smoke rising above the airport. This is round 7pm local time. Last night there had been warnings from both the uk and the us that in attack was imminent as indeed has come to pass was up these pictures were posted on social media. This is the scene in the moments after the attack. Some of the injured are being carried away in wheelbarrows, others are wearing bloodied bandages. This is the scene outside Cobbles Main Hospitals in the minutes following the attack. There are warnings of other attacks being possible. Wejust heard there are warnings of other attacks being possible. We just heard that in the Pentagon Briefing even possible Car Bombings or truck bombings. Thejournalists possible Car Bombings or truck bombings. The journalists who left afghanistan at the weekend has posted these pictures on twitter of the scene before the attack. You can see how busy it is. This is said to be a Sewage Canal where afghans have been waiting for the papers should been waiting for the papers should be vetted. Many women and children were among the group. Speaking to some survivors and explains what happens. Abs. Some survivors and explains what ha ens. � ,. Some survivors and explains what hauens. M. , some survivors and explains what hauens. ,. ,. , happens. A Suicide Attack are believed to happens. A Suicide Attack are believed to have happens. A Suicide Attack are believed to have been happens. A Suicide Attack are l believed to have been wearing happens. A Suicide Attack are i believed to have been wearing a happens. A Suicide Attack are believed to have been wearing a vest designated as explosive right in the middle of the Sewage Canal. The friend that i spoke to told me there is a pool of blood now. A lot of people are killed and wounded there are scenes of chaos. 0ne Armed Attack that was shooting towards Coalition Forces and American Forces. Now This is what the taliban would have been doing evening until a few weeks ago. This was the prayer delete i preferred attack. Now the islamic state is seen as a potent threat. More importantly, these are people who are fleeing, fearing for their lives and This airport has now become a deadly Front Line where you talk about This massive bomb or you talk about This massive bomb or you talk about This massive bomb or you talk about gunfire and stampede. Let me just remind you what weve heard from the americans in the last hour. 12 Military Personnel been killed in This attack. 15 are wounded, the americans say they expect further get a tax to be continued, they highlight the possibility of a vehicle bomb. They say theyre reaching out to the taliban and coordinating with them. Yes we will go after those who are behind the attacks was that they set in the briefing theres been no attribution they are able to confirm that the islamic group said it carried out the attack was up it did so via its telegram channel. The americans also talking about trying to improve procedures but emphasise the point of being a Kabul Airport is to get people out of the Air Fields say the mission continues. Im also seeing the Bbc Correspondent has tweeted within the last couple of minutes and big blast in kabul with her at the moment we have no further details on that. He has her that in kabul. An awful lot to take it. Lets bring in our security correspondent. We havent heard from the islamic states, thats now changed. The islamic states, thats now chanced. ~. ,. ,. , the islamic states, thats now chan. Ed. ,. ,. , , , changed. We have no great surprises was u i changed. We have no great surprises was up i dont changed. We have no great surprises was up i dont like changed. We have no great surprises was up i dont like using changed. We have no great surprises was up i dont like using the changed. We have no great surprises was up i dont like using the word was up i dont like using the Word Responsibility for the have claimed that they were behind his boss. This for them i hate to say it but This is a triple success. They have killed their sworn enemy, the us western military which they consider to be a vile Apostate Presence in the land of afghanistan. They have caused Chaos And Confusion in the airport, embarrassing everybody and tried to disrupt This huge airlift. And they have made it very embarrassing for the taliban government which is now in charge of security or Kabul Airport. And quite clearly unable to stop these attacks. Last year the Isis Group carried out 24 attacks in kabul. And thatis carried out 24 attacks in kabul. And that is which with a big Nato Presence was of the taliban who is been outside the tent for the last 20 years have onlyjust taken over these checkpoints, This is new to them governing, relatively new certainly in kabul it is. And they are clearly are not able to stop the Suicide Bombers coming through. The really weird thing, i never thought to be saying This, its unbreakable two weeks ago, we are seeing us, taliban intelligence cooperation. Two weeks ago they were trying to kill each other. Today they are cooperating. For kill each other. Today they are cooperating kill each other. Today they are cooperating. For many viewers watching. Cooperating. For many viewers watching, what cooperating. For many viewers watching, what does cooperating. For many viewers watching, what does state cooperating. For many viewers| watching, what does state want cooperating. For many viewers watching, what does state want here . The taliban are islamic militants was that they just seize control of afghanistan. That in the eyes of son might be good news for ijaz. That afghanistan. That in the eyes of son might be good news for ijaz. Might be good news for iaz. At the tactical revel might be good news for iaz. At the tactical level they h might be good news for iaz. At the tactical level they rivals. Might be good news for ijaz. At the tactical level they rivals. Why might be good news for ijaz. At the tactical level they rivals. Why they l tactical level they rivals. Why they both share a desire to rid the country of all foreign forces theyve got different views beyond that. The taliban is focused very much on establishing in an islamic emirate in afghanistan. They are not interested it beyond afghanistan supporters other than trade and perhaps a bit of support from pakistan. But isis, the Isis Affiliate is part of the global network of Isis Affiliate which look to establish a caliphate which looked to overthrow what they consider to be a prostate government. They been very active in the under government or less well governed parts and they certainly hope to set up bases and so chaos in afghanistan so they can jump into the Power Vacuum and take advantage of the fact there is no longer in afghan Intelligence Service hunting them down. D0 afghan Intelligence Service hunting them down. ,. ,. ,. , them down. Do we have any handle on where ias operates them down. Do we have any handle on where ias operates out them down. Do we have any handle on where ias operates out of where ias operates out of afghanistan . Where ias operates out of afuhanistan . ,. , where ias operates out of afuhanistan . ,. , , afghanistan . Their bases always been manda heart province. Afghanistan . Their bases always been manda heart province. A afghanistan . Their bases always been manda heart province. A Remote Manda heart province. A remote heavily wooded province but primarily mega heart which is up against the pakistani border next to drug and people smuggling routes. They had to infiltrate people into kabul. The fact that This is a complex Attack Shows its taking a little bit of planning. But This wasnt that difficult to do, i had to say. Youve only got to look at the pictures to see there is a crowd, there are targets of opportunity, there are western servicemen, soldiers trying desperately to control the crowd. This is a very tempting target for them for that which is one of the reasons they were in such a rush, the us and its allies to complete This airlift as quickly as possible and not stay on much longer. Thank ou ve and not stay on much longer. Thank you very much and not stay on much longer. Thank you very much indeed. And not stay on much longer. Thank you very much indeed. Penn and not stay on much longer. Thank you very much indeed. Penn farthing is a former Royal Marine who was near to the Kabul Airport his vehicle targeted by the government during the chaos. T vehicle targeted by the government during the chaos. Vehicle targeted by the government during the chaos. I was inside kabul airort, during the chaos. I was inside Kabul Airport. Are during the chaos. I was inside Kabul Airport. Are gone during the chaos. I was inside Kabul Airport, are gone inside during the chaos. I was inside Kabul Airport, are gone inside the airport, are gone inside the perimeter with my team. We were 300 metres inside 36 hours to achieve. I had all my staff enters all of the dogs and cats, 300 metres inside the perimeter. We had gone through hell to get there. Weve had taliban caught their weapons and point them at ourfaces. 0ne caught their weapons and point them at our faces. One of the men caught their weapons and point them at ourfaces. One of the men had what we see on the marines in md, a negligent discharge where they accidentally pull the trigger. Nd. Wheres only a miracle that otherwise One Of Us would be here now. We got inside the airfield and just before that horrendous attack, to attacks as seen on the news, i just heard the casualty figures, we were told thatJoe Biden had changed the policy on who was allowed into the policy on who was allowed into the airfield and so my staff, even though theyve been given approval by the British Government, the taliban wouldnt accept their paperwork because they been told they can only allow people in with a physical passport with a visa in it. And we were at gunpoint again so twice had Somebody Poke his ak in my face. We were forced to leave the airfield and just as we did thats when those two attack, not sure, happened across the Abbey Gate. And all hell broke loose at the Airport Circle which is where i was which is about a mile from where the explosions, across the Abbey Gate were. And we had taliban theyre firing into the air, wont let off a full magazine, and automatic from his ak47 full magazine, and automatic from his Ak 47 right next to the window of our bus where we had women and children in. As we are trying to then flee from the airport we were getting tear gas. So are trying to drive the vehicle while we obviously cant see anything. It was just the most horrific thing weve all managed to make it back obviously our Animal Shelter here. We obviously did here the News Reports of the deaths occurring at the Abbey Gate. And sadly us soldiers involved. In the casualties. None of This needed to happen, none of This needed to happen like This. Needed to happen like This. Youve describin needed to happen like This. Youve describing the needed to happen like This. Youve describing the 36 needed to happen like This. Youve describing the 36 hours needed to happen like This. Youve describing the 36 hours it needed to happen like This. Youve describing the 36 hours it took needed to happen like This. Youve describing the 36 hours it took you to get into the airport. Help us understand The General Circumstances around the perimeter of the airport in which This attack would have happened earlier. Taste in which This attack would have happened earlier. Happened earlier. We had to go throu~h happened earlier. We had to go through several happened earlier. We had to go through several check happened earlier. We had to go through several check their happened earlier. We had to go through several check their two j through several check their two points, taliban checkpoints, you can start to each one. We were surrounded by 40 taliban i know that because i counted and watched as they all got off their trucks to surround us. And theyjust told us for an hour pointing weapons at us. While they negotiated on the airfield. Then we finally made it down to the airfield they were just thousands, thousands of people desperately trying to get into that airport. I stood out as a westerner and a guy came up to me and he said. Hello mate. And i said youre from london are you . He said yeah, im a bus driver. We got to chatting isjust yeah, im a bus driver. We got to chatting is just out here with his kids to see his family. He said yeah, im with that group over there. There is about four of them and i went over to chat to them and theyll me their passports, 40. Theyve all got british passports, theres no way theyre going to be able to get home. There are thousands of people who are good to be left there who have every right in the world to get on a flight and Come Home. In the world to get on a flight and Come Home in the world to get on a flight and Come Home. ,. , Come Home. Help me understand why the are Come Home. Help me understand why they are rrot Come Home. Help me understand why they are not able Come Home. Help me understand why they are not able to Come Home. Help me understand why they are not able to get Come Home. Help me understand why they are not able to get home. Come home. Help me understand why they are not able to get home. They l they are not able to get home. They have their passport, at what point is that passport not enough to get them through . Is that passport not enough to get them through . Is that passport not enough to get them throu~h . A ,. ,. ,. , them through . Checkpoint Taliban And Wont let you them through . Checkpoint Taliban And Wont let you through them through . Checkpoint Taliban And Wont let you through if them through . Checkpoint Taliban And Wont let you through if obviously wont let you through if obviously you are of African Heritage but youve now got a foreign passport. 0thers youve now got a foreign passport. Others like Abbey Gate its just a volume of people trying to get into that gate. So theres a big backlog and the powers they are doing absolutely the bestjob they possibly can in a horrendous situation they been dropped into for them its not theirfault situation they been dropped into for them its not their fault its the planners. The people in charge of This disastrous operation. They knew all the way to top toJoe Biden in the way hes managed This withdrawal. It could have been so well planned for that youve got Bagram Air which is one of the biggest airbase and is part of the world. They closed down two weeks before This. I dont understand the logic, i truly dont. T the eight people are dying not because of it. A little earlier you described all Hell Breaking Loose in the immediate aftermath of these explosions. Most people watching wont know kabul at all nor the precise scene that youre in. Help us understand by what you mean there. Youre in. Help us understand by what you mean there. Where we were is what we call what you mean there. Where we were is what we call air what you mean there. Where we were is what we call Air Port what you mean there. Where we were is what we call Air Port circle. What you mean there. Where we were is what we call Air Port circle. The is what we call Air Port circle. The roundabout get you into Kabul Airport. The Abbey Gate is only a dead End Road from that. 0nce airport. The Abbey Gate is only a dead End Road from that. Once people are in that dead end theres only one way to get back out. Triage are in that dead end theres only one way to get back out. One way to get back out. Now in the ast few one way to get back out. Now in the past few minutes one way to get back out. Now in the past few minutes we one way to get back out. Now in the past few minutes we are one way to get back out. Now in the past few minutes we are hearing past few minutes we are Hearing Reports of another explosion in kabul. The afp is saying another huge blast heard in the city, also the bbc� s Deli Bureau Chief overseeing our courage in afghanistan says Bbc Team on the ground has heard at least two more blast in afghanistan since the dew devastating earlier blast. Both Pvc Teams and Afp Staff both in kabul have heard further explosions in the city. We have no other details on those explosions at the moment. Of course i will bring those to you when we get it. I should also say President Biden is due to address americans about the situation in afghanistan at 5pm eastern. Lets look further at the international reaction to whats happened. Germany has called This a heinous attack and says it has a Hospital Plane on standby to help treat injured people at Kabul Airport. Angela merkel. There is a high level of pressure to be exerted in the admission to airlift People Out Of Kabul. We know that the window of opportunity is closing. Tens of thousands of people have been airlifted to security. Today i would like it to once again repeat that those who have not been able to leave kabul with the help of the airlift will not be forgotten. We will continue to work to ensure that they can leave their country if they so wish. That they can leave their country if they so wish that they can leave their country if the so wish. ~ �. ,. ,. , they so wish. Weve also heard from they so wish. Weve also heard from the fresh two they so wish. Weve also heard from the fresh two french they so wish. Weve also heard from the fresh two french president they so wish. Weve also heard from the fresh two french president who | the fresh two french president who hopes to get several hundred more People Out Of Kabul and here is the uk prime Minister Borisjohnson. This threat of a Terrorist Attack is one of This threat of a Terrorist Attack is one of the This threat of a Terrorist Attack is one of the constraints that weve been one of the constraints that weve been operating under an Operation Pitting been operating under an Operation Pitting and the big extraction thats pitting and the big extraction thats been going on. Weve been ready thats been going on. Weve been ready for thats been going on. Weve been ready for it. Thats been going on. Weve been ready for it, we been prepared for it and ready for it, we been prepared for it and i ready for it, we been prepared for it and i want to stress that we are going it and i want to stress that we are going to it and i want to stress that we are going to continue with that operation. And we are now coming to the very operation. And we are now coming to the very end operation. And we are now coming to the very end of it. In any Event And Weve the very end of it. In any Event And Weve already extracted the overwhelming majority of those under both these overwhelming majority of those under both these schemes, the eligible persons, both these schemes, the eligible persons, the Uk Nationals plus the afghans, persons, the Uk Nationals plus the afghans, the interpreters and others afghans, the interpreters and others. And its been a totally phenomenal effort by the uk. Theres been noThing Like it for decades and decades been noThing Like it for decades and decades. But clearly what This attack decades. But clearly what This Attack Shows is the importance of continuing Attack Shows is the importance of continuing that work and is fast and efficient continuing that work and is fast and efficient manner as possible in the hours efficient manner as possible in the hours that efficient manner as possible in the hours that remained to us. And thats hours that remained to us. And thats what hours that remained to us. And thats what were going to do. And The Bbcs thats what were going to do. Mr. The bbcs political correspondent. We know that today the uk had 11 flights planned and they understanding seems to be that those will continue. But mrjohnson also said the effort was coming to the neck towards its very end. I think, its very difficult moments for the British Government because Mr Johnson is saying he thought almost everyone had been brought out. But we know that you look at those pictures outside, those crowds with their targeted in This attack, desperate people, thousands and thousands of them are still there, still trying to get in. There are multiple reports of interpreters who worked with british forces desperate to get in, unable to get into the airport. So far we know yesterday members of parliament, around 200 people had a briefing with the Defence Secretary here and they were to tell you jing him with cases that have been brought to them of desperate people. Academics and others inside kabul. So there are many, many who have not been brought out despite what the British Government says. And the Prime Minister there for saying that they are now looking towards the next phase which is when This winds down, is the Travel Ban allowing people out of the country so that they can try to be brought to safety caliban. From neighbouring states. But that is still going to be a very difficult operation too. Tt difficult operation too. If thats the calculation difficult operation too. If thats the calculation for difficult operation too. If thats the calculation for the uk the calculation for the Uk Government in the days and weeks ahead, if i could ask about today, am i right in saying that no Uk Military personnel have been caught up Military Personnel have been caught up in these attacks . Yes. Military personnel have been caught up in these attacks . Up in these attacks . Yes, according to the ministry up in these attacks . Yes, according to the Ministry Of Up in these attacks . Yes, according to the Ministry Of Defence up in these attacks . Yes, according to the Ministry Of Defence No Up in these attacks . Yes, according to the Ministry Of Defence no uk. To the Ministry Of Defence no Uk Personnel caught in theirs. We know that This was in an area where british and American Forces have been working Side By side on This side of the airport. Its very close to the hotel that the british had been using and have been using as a Staging Post to get to process people and get them out. But in This instance it seems to be british troops not involved in This. Americans absolutely caught in This class as you say, the numbers there appeared to be climbing ever higher. Its half past midnight in kabul. 20 years ago the us and its allies responded to 9 11 by removing the taliban from power in afghanistan. Is that mission enters its last days a double attack is killed 12 us personnel and a senior Health Official in kabul says at least 60 people in total had died. In washington pay Pentagon Briefing says its not working with the taliban and that they share a common purpose between now and the end of the month. It also says we continue the month. It also says we continue the mission. Christian fraser will be with you in a moment to continue our coverage. Bear in mind we have a number of reports from kabul that another explosion has been heard. You can also follow the story through The Bbcs live page which you can find it bbc. Com news. We call a Friend Spread southward right across the uk that introduce fresher air. Right across the uk that introduce fresherair. Quite right across the uk that introduce fresher air. Quite a bit of cloud in central and eastern sums on the best of the sunshine out west. For friday its a similar story. A lot of dry weather around, its a similar story. A lot of dry weatheraround, best its a similar story. A lot of dry weather around, best of the west. Cloud will be affecting Central And Eastern Areas. This is a weak Cold Front which is spread its way south pretty much across the uk as we head on into This evening and overnight it will be all in that all cooler air mass. Central and eastern areas will hold onto The Cloud, it will tend to just wait a little bit further westwards. Extremities of western scotland, Parts Of Northern Scotland Western england and wales will see clear skies with a beer could be quite cool temperatures in single figures. For most what we have The Cloud ten to 13 cents he is. For friday we have another fairly fresh start to the day. Theyll be that Area Part through Central And Eastern Areas with a perhaps a bit more sunshine into the afternoon for the backlog tending to fragment and places for the best of the sunshine will be northern and western areas again here the likes two letters of the winds with up quite a breezy day in the eastern side of the country for that that would take the edge of the chapters here for the particular close to the coast, mid to high teens with the warmer spots, 20 22 celsius with herfor warmer spots, 20 22 celsius with her for the weekend and most of us it is a bank holiday weekend. 0ur Area of High Pressure still dominates its going to be dry variable amounts of cloud and there will be good spells of sunshine. For the weekend it looks like our area of High Pressure will park itself to the northwest of the uk. More of a breeze in the southeast was up clusters of showers they are in the near continent and a few of these could just encroach into the far southeast of england into the afternoon. Here it will be breezy, theyll be variable amounts of cloud. The best of the Sunshine Northern and western areas here with the latest wins. The best temperatures out west, 22 degrees or so. Again the high teens further east. Similarstory so. Again the high teens further east. Similar story on sunday. Most of the car will be across northern and eastern areas with up quite a breeze blowing down the North Sea coast. Some shelter, the best of Sunshine And Southwest with a 22 May be 23 degrees otherwise its the high teens again. Far monday i think it looks like it could be a cloudier day generally. Probably the best of sunshine will be across northern and western areas. Temperatures perhaps a bit lower, high teens for many with top temperature, 22 degrees. This is bbc news, im christian fraser. Twin Bomb Attacks at Kabul Airport kill dozens of people the explosions took place where us soldiers were manning the gates and at a nearby hotel. At least one of the attacks was a Suicide Bombing. The us government says despite 12 of its Service Members being among the dead it will continue its evacuation as planned. Isis will not deter us from accomplishing the mission i can assure you of that. The islamic State Group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it said an is Suicide Bomber detonated his explosives amid a gathering of afghans and us forces processesing their documents. It comes as thousands had still been gathering outside the airport despite clear warnings of an imminent attack. The uk says it will continue its evacuation programme