A US navy investigation into the 2021 Kabul airport blast has concluded that the assault was carried out by a lone suicide bomber.
In a briefing, the top of US Central Command, Basic Frank McKenzie, mentioned {that a} so-called Islamic State militant carrying 20 kilos of explosives, detonated himself close to one of many airport gates amongst dense crowds of individuals.
The blast killed 170 Afghans and 13 US navy personnel.
Probe clarifies preliminary evaluation
Shortly after the assault it was initially reported that there had been two blasts together with accounts of gunfire.
Nonetheless the investigation has revealed that it was a single blast, and the gunfire was a results of warning photographs that had been fired by US and British troops shortly after the blast came about.
“A single, explosive system killed no less than 170 Afghan civilians and 13 US service members by explosively directing ball bearings by means of a packed crowd and into our women and men at Abbey gate,” mentioned McKenzie.
Hundreds of males, girls and kids, had descended on the world in a determined try to get onto evacuation flights leaving the nation.
The Taliban had simply seized management of the capital and plenty of had been fearing retribution from the nation’s new leaders.
Assault was ‘not preventable’
In line with the lead investigator, the assault couldn’t have been stopped.
“Primarily based upon our investigation, on the tactical degree this was not preventable,” mentioned Brigadier Basic Lance Curtis.
McKenzie additionally identified that regardless of the protecting gear of troops within the space, “the disturbing lethality of this system was confirmed by the 58 US service members who had been killed and wounded regardless of the common put on of physique armor and helmets,” which he mentioned did cease influence from ball bearings, however physique elements not lined resulted in “catastrophic accidents.”
The multinational airlift operation noticed round 126,000 folks evacuated over the course of round three weeks.
Testimony was gathered from over 100 witnesses, together with medical and explosives specialists.
Footage from drones and different sources was scrutinized to find out the course of occasions.
kb/aw (AFP, AP, Reuters)