this is bbc news. twin bomb attacks at kabul airport with unconfirmed reports of at least 10 deaths — the explosions took place where us have been stationed — and at a nearby hotel. initial reports point to a suicide bombing — it's thought the dead includes children. the us government says there have been american casualties — eyewitnesses describe a chaotic scene. people started running away and we got out. i saw at least four or 500 people there. the explosions were really powerful. others were on the ground outside. we carried the wounded hero on stretchers and my clothes are completely bloodied. 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. welcome to bbc world news — there's been a suicide bombing at kabul airport in afghanistan, where crowds were gathered in the hope of getting on a flight to escape taliban rule. it comes after days of warnings from western intelligence agencies that an attack at the airport could be imminent. let me bring you up to date with what we know so far. the spokesperson for the us secretary of defence has called it a complex attack that resulted in a number of american and afghan casualties. taliban officials said at least 13 people were killed. the uk ministry of defence says there have been no reported uk military or uk government casualties

following the incidents in kabul. a spokesman has condemned the attack and said it took place in an area where the us were responsible for security. one blast happened close to the airport's abbey gate, and the other close to the nearby baron hotel. the hotel had been used by some western nations as a staging point for evacuations since the airlift began. let me bring you the latest line from the british prime minister us confirmed in a statement that us and afghan civilians had died in the attack is at the airport. he confirmed the uk will continue with the evacuation programme according to the uk's timetable and boris johnson condemned the attack as despicable, and he said we are in the final stages of the evacuation. there are the initial comments when the british prime minister boris johnson. here's our diplomatic correspondent, paul adams.

it is the attack everyone feared, smoke and gunfire on the edge of the airport. two explosions in rapid succession in an area packed with civilians. shock and panic is injured orferried to hospital, kabul is used to atrocities, but this is the first of its kind since the city fell, targeting the very people most desperate to leave. translation:— people most desperate to leave. translation: ., , , ., translation: people started running awa and we translation: people started running away and we got _ translation: people started running away and we got out. _ translation: people started running away and we got out. at _ translation: people started running away and we got out. at least - translation: people started running away and we got out. at least four- away and we got out. at least four of 500 people. the explosion was really powerful. half were hauled into the water, others on the ground outside. we carried the wounded on stretchers and my clothes are bloodied. it stretchers and my clothes are bloodied. ., , , stretchers and my clothes are bloodied. . , , ., ., bloodied. it happened on the airport erimeter, bloodied. it happened on the airport perimeter. one _ bloodied. it happened on the airport perimeter, one explosion _ bloodied. it happened on the airport perimeter, one explosion at - bloodied. it happened on the airport perimeter, one explosion at the - perimeter, one explosion at the abbey gate, the other at the nearby baron hotel where evacuees are being processed. last night, britain, american industry and it warned of such an attack. the foreign office said... ., ,

such an attack. the foreign office said... . , . , said... the threat is credible, it is imminent. — said... the threat is credible, it is imminent, it _ said... the threat is credible, it is imminent, it is _ said... the threat is credible, it is imminent, it is lethal. - we wouldn't be saying this if we weren't genuinely concerned about offering islamic state a target that is just unimaginable. no group has yet said it carried out the attack but on tuesday president biden had this morning. the the attack but on tuesday president biden had this morning.— biden had this morning. the longer we sta , biden had this morning. the longer we stay. starting — biden had this morning. the longer we stay, starting with _ biden had this morning. the longer we stay, starting with the - biden had this morning. the longer we stay, starting with the acute - biden had this morning. the longer| we stay, starting with the acute and growing risk of an attack by a terrorist group known as isis—k, and isis affiliated in afghanistan, which is the sworn enemy of the taliban as well, every day we are on the ground is another day we know that isis—k is seeking to target the airport and attack both us and allied forces and innocent civilians.— allied forces and innocent civilians. , ., civilians. this morning the prime minister visited _ civilians. this morning the prime minister visited the _ civilians. this morning the prime minister visited the crisis - civilians. this morning the prime minister visited the crisis centre | minister visited the crisis centre at northwich where britain's evacuation effort is being run. staff here, still in touch of former afghan interpreters and others waiting to get out. borisjohnson

says the overwhelming majority have now left and for those who haven't. .. we hope to continue to be able to say to people, well, you can come out. and one of the key things is we are saying to the taliban, to the government, the new authorities in kabul, is to engage with the west, to unlock those funds, safe passage for those who want to come out is obviously the number one condition. afg ha ns largely afghans largely ignored warnings to avoid the airport, such as their determination to me. but�*s horrific scenes may hasten the end of this vast, chaotic mission. pa rt part of the coalition to help evacuate people from afghanistan and he has been speaking to people in kabul airport. thank you for being here with us on the programme. in

terms of your conversation, we have been having since the attacks, tell me more. ., ~' been having since the attacks, tell me more. ., ~ ,, been having since the attacks, tell me more. ., ~ i. ., been having since the attacks, tell me more. . ~' i” ., . me more. thank you for having me. on the ground. _ me more. thank you for having me. on the ground. it — me more. thank you for having me. on the ground, it has _ me more. thank you for having me. on the ground, it has been _ me more. thank you for having me. on the ground, it has been a _ the ground, it has been a devastating attack with multiple different avenues of attack. the bomb blast was felt inside the airfield and that the families we are speaking to right now are safe, thankfully, everyone we have been tracking and trying to get in the airport was either away from the point in time, is in the custody of the us forces right now and are safe and secure or on flights out. thankfully, the people we are tracking are doing all right. timer;r tracking are doing all right. they must be asking _ tracking are doing all right. they must be asking the _ tracking are doing all right. they must be asking the obvious question to you and to everybody else, what happens now, how do we get out, that channel we had been anticipating. do you know any of the answers? what channelwe had been anticipating. do you know any of the answers? what we know ri . ht you know any of the answers? what we know right now — you know any of the answers? what we know right now is _ you know any of the answers? what we know right now is that _ you know any of the answers? what we know right now is that the _ you know any of the answers? what we know right now is that the us _ you know any of the answers? what we know right now is that the us is - know right now is that the us is trying to get in fights back up through the military aircraft that

are on the ground there. we anticipate those fights to start picking up again as soon as the us forces can verify that it is secure. what i think this within states is the desperation that people are facing right now. this evacuation was precipitated by fears of this event, so our focus was precipitated by fears of this event, so ourfocus is was precipitated by fears of this event, so our focus is looking for it. how do we get these people out through other means, whether it is a corridor that we could potentially have governments open up or otherwise, but from my perspective right now, avenues to evacuate people through the airport, if they are not already in the airport, closing. are not already in the airport, closina. ., ., ., , . ., closing. you wrote in a piece, a olitical closing. you wrote in a piece, a political piece. _ closing. you wrote in a piece, a political piece, even _ closing. you wrote in a piece, a political piece, even before - closing. you wrote in a piece, a - political piece, even before today's attack and let me read a couple of the quotes because they are very damning in your assessment. this administration keep saying this was inevitable but absolutely there was a way to avoid this. if that is not

the definition of gas lighting, i don't know what is. why do you think they have got it so wrong in terms of both what they have been doing and the messaging? the of both what they have been doing and the messaging?— and the messaging? the biden demonstration _ and the messaging? the biden demonstration very _ and the messaging? the biden demonstration very early - and the messaging? the biden demonstration very early on i and the messaging? the biden| demonstration very early on me and the messaging? the biden - demonstration very early on me to calculate a decision on the level of public support they were going to give to the afghan government, which was frankly not backed by the situation on the ground. when president biden announces intention to withdraw us forces, something we were supportive of, one of the big key measures he fails to take into account is set to take care of our allies and those left behind. we offered a plan on how to evacuate those people over the coming months. that plan was not taken up in its entirety and it was not taken up because they were afraid of the scenes we're right now. i am very concerned of what happened in the past but right now i'm looking forward and how can we save the people that we have. how can we take care of the tens of thousands of

individuals who have been evacuated and are looking to settle in the us and are looking to settle in the us and elsewhere.— and are looking to settle in the us and elsewhere. sorry to cut across ou as and elsewhere. sorry to cut across you as you — and elsewhere. sorry to cut across you as you are _ and elsewhere. sorry to cut across you as you are finishing _ and elsewhere. sorry to cut across you as you are finishing that - and elsewhere. sorry to cut acrossj you as you are finishing that point. you were talking about your fears of people being left behind. after today's event. does that make it more likely?— today's event. does that make it more likely? absolutely, as far as we are aware. _ more likely? absolutely, as far as we are aware, if— more likely? absolutely, as far as we are aware, if you _ more likely? absolutely, as far as we are aware, if you are - more likely? absolutely, as far as we are aware, if you are not - more likely? absolutely, as far as| we are aware, if you are not inside the effort, you are not getting inside the effort and individuals appoint to have to find other ways to leave. our advice to our network is to find a safe house, bc for the time being and we are going to try and figure out alternate ways to get people out of the coming weeks and months to other measures. i was auoin to months to other measures. i was going to say _ months to other measures. i was going to say exactly _ months to other measures. i was going to say exactly the - months to other measures. i was going to say exactly the plenty i going to say exactly the plenty finished on. once the effort evacuation is finished, whether it is today or tomorrow or whether it does get extended fractionally over the weekend for civilians, there clearly is going to have to be other routes out. presumably, that is what you are working on now.—

routes out. presumably, that is what you are working on now. yeah, we are ro osina you are working on now. yeah, we are proposing a — you are working on now. yeah, we are proposing a various — you are working on now. yeah, we are proposing a various mechanisms, - you are working on now. yeah, we are proposing a various mechanisms, a i proposing a various mechanisms, a travel card, other countries stepping into the pot without flows. we understand this is the united states plus �*s problem and what that means for other countries is that we are going to have to ask them for help. that is unfortunate but that is where we are right now.- help. that is unfortunate but that is where we are right now. thank you ve much is where we are right now. thank you very much for— is where we are right now. thank you very much forjoining _ is where we are right now. thank you very much forjoining us _ is where we are right now. thank you very much forjoining us live - is where we are right now. thank you very much forjoining us live from - very much forjoining us live from atlanta. let's head straight back to kabul. our afghanistan correspondent secunder kermani is in kabul. what is the latest you are hearing? absolutely, an awful day. still waiting on final death toll figures andindeed waiting on final death toll figures and indeed updated casually for goats but from a video i was looking at, that has been shared online of the aftermath, it seems like we are talking about a significant number of people who have lost their lives in this incident. videos showing piles of dead bodies in and around the suez canal were hundreds of

people gathered hoping to get inside the airport —— sewage canal. western intelligence agencies had been warning about this kind of incident, the possibility of attack by iis, you and i have been reporting on this throughout the day. it seems their intelligence tragically was remarkably accurate. no claim of responsibility yet but all indication that this was carried out ijy indication that this was carried out by eis. us, indication that this was carried out by eis. iis, of course, much less powerful than the taliban but has a history of carrying out this brutal, devastating suicide bombings, especially here in kabul. in the past they have targeted wedding halls, hospitals, funerals, almost anything you can think of. this latest bombing suggests that even if the taliban's war against the afghan government has come to an end, the bloodshed in afghanistan may well unfortunately continue. i bloodshed in afghanistan may well unfortunately continue.— bloodshed in afghanistan may well unfortunately continue. i don't want to dwell on — unfortunately continue. i don't want to dwell on this _ unfortunately continue. i don't want to dwell on this point _ unfortunately continue. i don't want to dwell on this point for— unfortunately continue. i don't want to dwell on this point for very - unfortunately continue. i don't want to dwell on this point for very long i to dwell on this point for very long because it is pretty obvious, but the blame game has already started between the two sides because the

taliban, only in the last 20 minutes, are saying this was an area under the us control.— minutes, are saying this was an area under the us control. control around the oint under the us control. control around the point is — under the us control. control around the point is somewhat _ under the us control. control around the point is somewhat confusing, - the point is somewhat confusing, really. we're talking about two blasts here, one by the entrance to the baron hotel, one outside the abbey gate. both close to each other. at abbey gate, british and american soldiers and others are stationed there, but the perimeter of the airport, security is carried out by the taliban. i have heard reports from colleagues and from other people who made the journey out, of the taliban at times checking documents and trying to filter people into different cues. anytime i have travelled to the airport, i had seen taliban there, i have never seen them anyone. this would have been an easy target for a suicide bomber in the crowd, in the chaos. unfortunately, it seems so many ordinary afghans who are just desperate to get out of the country, desperate to get out of the country, desperate to get out of the country, desperate to escape danger, being

caught up in this class. {iii desperate to escape danger, being caught up in this class.— caught up in this class. of course, the window _ caught up in this class. of course, the window continues _ caught up in this class. of course, the window continues to - caught up in this class. of course, the window continues to close - caught up in this class. of course, the window continues to close to l caught up in this class. of course, i the window continues to close to the sist the window continues to close to the 31st of august deadline. in terms of... do you get any sense of what happens next, in the next few days after the 31st?— after the 31st? first of all, there had been concerns _ after the 31st? first of all, there had been concerns about - after the 31st? first of all, there had been concerns about what l after the 31st? first of all, there i had been concerns about what this blast or two blasts would mean for the evacuation effort. we have heard from us officials, it seems that the evacuation efforts and the fights are still continuing for the moment, but we have also already heard that a number of european countries that completed all the flights they were planning on carrying out, others were planning on completing by tomorrow and pretty scene the us is going to have to pivot from flying out civilians and afghans it was relocating to find out its own soldiers. it sent in thousands of extra troops to oversee and manage this evacuation process. after the sist this evacuation process. after the 31st of august, there is a lot of anxiety and uncertainty about what

happens then. it seems as if it is quite likely the airport may have to close for a period of time whilst the new taliban regime or whatever government is coming out from this whole episode tries to get to grips with the logistics and the technical challenges of setting up that airport. there had been discussions about turkish officials or turkish engineers, technical staff, helping them do that, but the taliban had also been insistent on the turkish military forces leaving by the 31st. i think the turkish government was somewhat reluctant to leave technical staff there without trips to protect them, so a lot of confusion about what will happen after the 31st. one thing that we may end up seeing is a greater number afghans making their way out of the country via its land borders. we have seen crowds gathering by the body of afghanistan with pakistan, close to the city of kandahar in the south. we have heard reports in the

past few weeks of afghans increasingly looking for ways illegally out of the country, going through both pakistan and iran towards turkey, although that rowt has become increasingly difficult. thanks once again, life for us in kabul. over the last couple of hours we have been hearing from the french president emmanuel macron and we heard in the last little while from angela merkel. borisjohnson has just been speaking after an cobra emergency meeting. let's hear a little of what he had to say. i can confirm there _ little of what he had to say. i can confirm there has _ little of what he had to say. i can confirm there has been - little of what he had to say. i can confirm there has been a - little of what he had to say. i can confirm there has been a barbaric terrorist attack and what looks like a series of attacks in kabul on the airport, at the crowds in the airport, at the crowds in the airport in which members of the us military very sadly lost their lives and many afghan casualties as well. we extend our condolences both to the united states of america and to the united states of america and to the people of afghanistan. i want to

stress that this threat of a terrorist attack is one of the constraints that we have been operating under in putting the big extraction has been going on. we have been ready for it and prepared for it, and i want to stress that we are going to continue with that operation and we are now coming towards the end of it, the very end of it, in any event. we have already extracted the overwhelming majority of those under both the schemes, the eligible persons, the uk persons, the uk nationals plus the afghans, the uk nationals plus the afghans, the interpreters and others. it has been a totally phenomenal effort by the uk. there has been nothing like it for decades and decades. that was boris it for decades and decades. that was itoris johnson _ it for decades and decades. that was boris johnson speaking _ it for decades and decades. that was boris johnson speaking in _ it for decades and decades. that was boris johnson speaking in the - it for decades and decades. that was boris johnson speaking in the last i borisjohnson speaking in the last little while. let's head to westminster and our political

correspondent ian watson. interesting to hear borisjohnson saying there was a evacuation is will continue, all of the focus on those comments on what happens in the next few days. that those comments on what happens in the next few days.— the next few days. that is right. 11 scheduled flights _ the next few days. that is right. 11 scheduled flights taking _ the next few days. that is right. 11 scheduled flights taking people i the next few days. that is right. 11 | scheduled flights taking people out of afghanistan from the british forces today and they are not going to be paused or stopped by this terrorist attack. you heard from the prime minister there, very clear, saying this is something they planned for, the possibility of a terrorist attack and that is not going to interrupt their operations. he said that emergency meeting of politicians, and military intelligence and chiefs in the cobra meeting, that the advice was this operation could continue. what is interesting as he has emphasised several times in this interview that this operation is coming to an end in any event. he said words like we are coming to the final stages of the evacuation. although, clearly, the evacuation. although, clearly, the slates are going to be continuing today, purchasing that

window for evacuation is going to be closed. sources have said to me, possibly friday, possibly saturday but it looks as though it is not going to be lasting much longer. then british troops will be packing up then british troops will be packing up and getting out ahead of american troops. there is also interesting that he was suggesting that members of the taliban were almost certainly going to be killed in this terrorist attack as well. and he was saying that emphasises just how difficult it is for any government to try and control the situation in afghanistan at the moment. and elsewhere in the interview, he repeated his optimism that people would still be allowed to leave once uk and us forces have withdrawn. he said he would exert influence and pressure on the new rulers in kabul to allow people to do so, but certainly the labour opposition has been far more sceptical about that. they are suggesting there is no real plan once people out happens and the evacuation should have started sooner. ., ~'

evacuation should have started sooner. ., ~ , ., y evacuation should have started sooner. ., ~ , ., , . sooner. thank you very much. let me brina ou sooner. thank you very much. let me bring you the — sooner. thank you very much. let me bring you the latest _ sooner. thank you very much. let me bring you the latest breaking - sooner. thank you very much. let me bring you the latest breaking line i bring you the latest breaking line which is coming to us from the pentagon and they are just saying in the last few seconds, a number of us troops have been killed in this attack at the airport today. the first confirmation from the americans that they have incurred fatalities today. we knew there had been casualties and injuries, but a number of us troops killed in the attack today. let's head to the white house and are us correspondent waiting to talk to us. distressing new details emerging from the pentagon.— distressing new details emerging from the pentagon. yes, the pentagon sa inc, as from the pentagon. yes, the pentagon saying. as you — from the pentagon. yes, the pentagon saying. as you rightly _ from the pentagon. yes, the pentagon saying, as you rightly say, _ from the pentagon. yes, the pentagon saying, as you rightly say, a _ from the pentagon. yes, the pentagon saying, as you rightly say, a number. saying, as you rightly say, a number of us troops killed, other military services, several of them, are confirming that at least four us troops have been killed and more injured. three more injured, we hear. of course, those are yet to be confirmed by the pentagon. ten days

ago,joe confirmed by the pentagon. ten days ago, joe biden said there were obese ago, joe biden said there were obese a swift and devastating response if there were attacks against us personnel in kabul. we haven't been hearing from the white house about that response is yes. what we have been hearing is thatjoe biden has been hearing is thatjoe biden has beenin been hearing is thatjoe biden has been in the situation with monitoring events over recent hours and he, of course, has been adamant over recent days, as we have talked about, that the us and coalition partners stick to that a self—imposed deadline for the end of this evacuation mission of the 31st of august and the primary reason for that was because of security concerns. you will remember yesterday he was talking once again specifically about the threat from the islamic state groups, so in once respect, i suppose vindication is a sort of strong word for it, but he may feel that he was right in calling this evacuation mission to happen as quickly as possible. but these attacks draw more attention, it was needed, to the chaotic nature

of the us from afghanistan. find i of the us from afghanistan. and i su ose of the us from afghanistan. and i suppose what _ of the us from afghanistan. and i suppose what is _ of the us from afghanistan. and i suppose what is currently - of the us from afghanistan. and i suppose what is currently being considered, you talked about the situation room, you talked about the president being briefed and updated, all the while, is whether there is any sort of pivot of strategy, whether they change anything on the ground for these final days. that whether they change anything on the ground for these final days.— ground for these final days. that is ri . ht and ground for these final days. that is right and for— ground for these final days. that is right and for those _ ground for these final days. that is right and for those here, _ ground for these final days. that is right and for those here, even i right and for those here, even critics within his own party, who has been extremely critical of the way this evacuation has been handled, those who are worried about humanitarian impact on the ground, who were already worried about the risk of thousands of people in jeopardy, being left behind, they will worry that is an even higher risk now, should this mission be curtailed. again, that is something that has not been talked about yet by the white house, but certainly there are those from the republican party and elsewhere who are saying, this is botched from the beginning. why on earth did the us vacate its

much more secure military base several weeks ago before this mission was accomplished? whilejoe biden may feel that he was right to address and highlight the security concerns of mission there, itjust means that he is getting all more criticism by the way, the entirety of the withdrawal.— criticism by the way, the entirety of the withdrawal. ,, ., , , ., , of the withdrawal. summary questions as we wait for— of the withdrawal. summary questions as we wait for that _ of the withdrawal. summary questions as we wait for that briefing. _ of the withdrawal. summary questions as we wait for that briefing. it - as we wait for that briefing. it still hasn't happened, as they continue to make their assessment but exactly what you were jesame, one of the assessments as a number of americans still there in afghanistan. there were already questions about whether they will get them out for the 31st of august and so many of the gas throughout the programme suggesting that today's events makes that now almost impossible. what happens next? we wait for that pentagon news conference. i am sure that will be one of the questions that is put to

the very spokesman. in the last little while, whilst we were listening to that, the taliban have given an update in terms of the death toll saying that the blast has killed between 13 and 20 people. they had originally used that figure, 13, that is creeping up. a little earlier i spoke to a freelance journalist and he told me he was near to where the attack actually happened.— he was near to where the attack actually happened. actually, i was standinu actually happened. actually, i was standingjust— actually happened. actually, i was standing just outside _ actually happened. actually, i was standing just outside when - actually happened. actually, i was standing just outside when i i actually happened. actually, i wasj standing just outside when i heard the explosion, which is not far away, followed by huge smoke coming out of the airport area. and later on, when i followed the local media, and the first thing we do when we

hear an explosion is call friends and family and make sure that they are ok. thankfully, there was no friends in the area when the explosion happened but, as you know, there are hundreds of families and tens of thousands of people have been waiting at the place where the explosions happened four weeks, and now there are people waiting for almost two weeks. there were families, children, women. the latest scene from people in the area, showing these videos, shows that the casualties are going to be massive and unfortunately there is not much help happening because the ambulances in the area are not proper security teams. you will see

graphic images from the area where women are shouting for help, people are calling for help but there is actually... everyone is left to their own and the people that are wounded. ., ,. , ., , wounded. your description is incredibly — wounded. your description is incredibly distressing. - wounded. your description is incredibly distressing. do i wounded. your description is | incredibly distressing. do you wounded. your description is i incredibly distressing. do you have any idea in terms of numbers of casualties? we are reporting hear what we're hearing from hospitals and various official sources. what you hearing? i and various official sources. what you hearing?— and various official sources. what you hearing? i thinki had 'ust seen the casualties i you hearing? i thinki had 'ust seen the casualties are i you hearing? i thinki had 'ust seen the casualties are going i you hearing? i thinki hadjust seen the casualties are going to - you hearing? i thinki hadjust seen the casualties are going to be i you hearing? i thinki hadjust seenj the casualties are going to be more than 50 killed and wounded. there are people unfortunately like animals, on top of each other, and no rescue teams of people helping them. i am very sorry to say that

them. i am very sorry to say that the casualties are surely going to be more than 50 people killed and wounded. brute be more than 50 people killed and wounded. ~ ., be more than 50 people killed and wounded. ~ . ., ., ., wounded. we are hearing from our afghanistan _ wounded. we are hearing from our afghanistan correspondent - wounded. we are hearing from our afghanistan correspondent a i wounded. we are hearing from our afghanistan correspondent a little | afghanistan correspondent a little earlier he described this as a soft target. there are so many areas where there are so many people gathered, trying to get out. is that how you would describe it as well? an easy target for any terrorist? i think whatever way you term it, it is tragic people who are scared for their lives and they want to leave their lives and they want to leave their country, trying their last chance to be included in an evacuation plane. anyone coming and targeting those people is the most tragic thing happening. there has been, we heard, warnings by the security officials in the airports,

but because people did not have any other choice but to try and get into one of these evacuation planes, they had to go to this... !fine one of these evacuation planes, they had to go to this. . ._ had to go to this... one account in the immediate _ had to go to this... one account in the immediate moments - had to go to this... one account in the immediate moments after- had to go to this... one account in i the immediate moments after those blasts at the airport. colin clark is a terrorism expert and a director of policy and research at the intelligence and security consultancy. he gave me this assessment after what happened. this is a disaster in the making and i think he is right in the sense that afghanistan is likely to turn into some kind ofjihadist state. the nightmare scenario is that foreign fighters will flock to the country and reinforce all the jihadi groups operating there. not only al-qaeda but isis—k and several other groups. al-qaeda but isis-k and several other groups-— al-qaeda but isis-k and several otherurou-s. . . , , other groups. that answer in a sense nets ahead other groups. that answer in a sense gets ahead to — other groups. that answer in a sense

gets ahead to where _ other groups. that answer in a sense gets ahead to where we _ other groups. that answer in a sense gets ahead to where we are. - other groups. that answer in a sense gets ahead to where we are. we i other groups. that answer in a sense| gets ahead to where we are. we have some very dangerous days ahead in the immediate run—up to the 31st, exactly as president macron was saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is auoin saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is going to — saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is going to be _ saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is going to be tense _ saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is going to be tense and _ saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is going to be tense and let's i saying a few minutes ago. yeah, it is going to be tense and let'sjustl is going to be tense and let's just hope this isn't the beginning of a sustained campaign by isis—k that unfolds over the coming days and weeks. the intelligence was spot on. the point of an imminent attack, we had one. i don't think it is going to be the last one. isis—k retains the capability to strike into the heart of kabul and it is going to be a very tense several days leading up to the 31st. did a very tense several days leading up to the 31st. , ., ., ., to the 31st. did the international community _ to the 31st. did the international community know _ to the 31st. did the international community know about - to the 31st. did the international community know about the i to the 31st. did the international i community know about the potency of this group because in the months, even years, leading up to where we have got to, it was all about the taliban and the peace talks and all about trying to push back and make sure the taliban didn't gain territory, much less focus on this offshoot. �* , ., territory, much less focus on this offshoot. �* ., ., , offshoot. anyone paying attention is aware of isis-k. _ offshoot. anyone paying attention is aware of isis-k. i— offshoot. anyone paying attention is

aware of isis-k. i wrote _ offshoot. anyone paying attention is aware of isis-k. i wrote a _ offshoot. anyone paying attention is aware of isis-k. i wrote a book, i aware of isis—k. i wrote a book, published in 2019, and i laid out exactly what i thought was going to happen, that we were going to see these affiliates, branches and franchise groups grow across the world. we have seen that in north africa, in egypt, in southeast asia and now we're seeing it afghanistan. give me your assessment, the effect that poses internally in afghanistan and externally. i that poses internally in afghanistan and externally.— and externally. i think the primary threat is within _ and externally. i think the primary threat is within afghanistan i and externally. i think the primary threat is within afghanistan and i threat is within afghanistan and within south asia, within the surrounding region. however, that doesn't rule out the possibility that isis—k will seek to regenerate its external operations planning network. and potentially one—day look to strike the west. band network. and potentially one-day look to strike the west.— look to strike the west. and in terms of what _ look to strike the west. and in terms of what the _ look to strike the west. and in terms of what the us - look to strike the west. and in terms of what the us can i look to strike the west. and in i terms of what the us can actually do, given the position we are in, what is your assessment of that? it is going to be difficult. we have few eyes and ears on the ground and

very few intelligence assets. after the 31st when western forces fully disengage, we are going to be flying blind and that is a dangerous and i am moving forward. iligi’hat blind and that is a dangerous and i am moving forward.— am moving forward. what do you antici ate am moving forward. what do you anticipate in _ am moving forward. what do you anticipate in the _ am moving forward. what do you anticipate in the immediate i am moving forward. what do you| anticipate in the immediate hours for the evacuation? i read out neat or�*s chief saying the evacuation remains a priority. that is hugely jeopardised by the basic security best now. ., , , jeopardised by the basic security best now. . , , . best now. that is very much jeopardise- _ best now. that is very much jeopardise- i— best now. that is very much jeopardise. i would - best now. that is very much jeopardise. i would expect l best now. that is very much i jeopardise. i would expect the evacuation to move forward, once security on the ground is figured out. this is going to be a situation that unfolds hour by hour over the coming days and it is one that again is likely to pose a serious concerns for the west. that is leaving at the afghan people who are the ones with the suffering here. iflaiiih afghan people who are the ones with the suffering here.— the suffering here. colin clarke, s-ueakin the suffering here. colin clarke, speaking to _ the suffering here. colin clarke, speaking to me _ the suffering here. colin clarke, speaking to me just _ the suffering here. colin clarke, speaking to me just a _ the suffering here. colin clarke, speaking to me just a short i the suffering here. colin clarke, l speaking to me just a short while ago. you are watching bbc news. let's have a reminder of the news that has dominated the last few hours because there has been a

double bomb attack on kabul