Civilians and US soldiers died in Kabul on Thursday.
Apparently suicide bombers blew themselves up at the airport.
An IS offshoot is committed to the deeds.
Munich - For days had been warned of the threatening situation in Kabul.
The takeover of power by the Taliban had thrown the country into chaos. In the capital of Afghanistan, thousands of people had been rushing to the airport for about a week to escape the horror regime of the Islamists.
Save your life.
The US armed forces, who want to pull through their withdrawal under high pressure by August 31 after 20 years in the Hindu Kush, did their best on the ground to create a feeling of security.
They held the back of the NATO partners to enable dozens of evacuation flights.
So more than 100,000 people got out.
Everything only tolerated by the Taliban, who insist that the occupiers say goodbye as soon as possible.
Attacks in Kabul: what do we know and what is still uncertain?
And then, on that Thursday afternoon, that nightmare turned into hell on earth.
When the terror returned to Kabul for the whole world to see.
What do we know about the attacks so far?
And what is still not known?
It is clear that there were at least two explosions in quick succession near the airport in the afternoon.
The first is said to have happened at Abbey Gate south of the site - the US had already warned its compatriots beforehand to go to the entrance.
The second explosion is located a little to the east near the Baron Hotel - US soldiers are said to have been housed there.
The number of victims fluctuated considerably.
In the course of the day, the Pentagon confirmed the death of twelve US soldiers and 15 comrades were injured.
Overall, more than 60 fatalities and more than 140 injuries are assumed in Afghanistan.
Many would still fight for their lives.
Attacks in Kabul: Question about German victims is still open
It is not yet certain whether Germans were also harmed. Neither Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer nor Foreign Minister Heiko Maas had reliable information about this at the second point of their first statements. Most of the victims are civilians, and there should still be a large number of Germans on site. Reports that children were also alleged to have been killed were initially not confirmed.
The exact sequence of the attacks cannot be completely reconstructed.
Initially, a suicide bomber and a car bomb were reported.
Then it was said that two suicide attacks had been carried out in quick succession.
In addition, fire was opened on US forces and civilians after the explosions by gunmen.
The attack seems to have been coordinated and not to have been perpetrated by individual perpetrators.
The IS offshoot Khorassan, which is based in Afghanistan, is suspected to be behind the attack.
The group has already claimed the attack for itself.
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Mission in Kabul: The many injured were immediately taken to hospitals.
© WAKIL KOHSAR / afp
Attacks in Kabul: last German evacuation flight probably shortly after the explosions
Germany ended its evacuation mission on Thursday, and the last official transport presumably took off shortly after the explosions.
In their statement, Kramp-Karrenbauer stated at least that two Bundeswehr soldiers could not initially be flown out due to the unsafe situation, but were later picked up by a MedEvac.
Injured people can also be cared for in this machine, which is why a corresponding offer has been made to the USA.
While Germany, like some allies, suspended flights days before the US deadline on Tuesday due to the increased risk, Great Britain and France want to continue evacuating.
Attacks in Kabul: USA want to hunt down backers
US General Kenneth McKenzie, in charge of the Afghanistan mission, said the country would hold those responsible for the attacks.
He announced a round-the-clock search.
What that should mean, those responsible have not yet been determined by August 31, is open.
The Taliban, who see themselves as competitors of IS, also condemned the attack.
So it cannot be assumed that they were involved in the plans.
In the evening there were reports of a third explosion in Kabul.
The background to this was initially completely unclear.
From the USA, however, it was reported that there had been controlled demolitions in the evening.
(mg)
List of rubric lists: © WAKIL KOHSAR / afp