Taliban warns desperate crowds to leave Kabul airport as at least 12 die trying to flee – World News
Thousands are still trying to escape Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power as heartbreaking videos emerge showing mothers ‘throwing their children over barbed wire’ to reach safety
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Video appears to show Afghan mum throwing babies so they can escape
The Taliban has today warned those trying to escape Afghanistan to leave Kabul airport immediately, stating: “We don’t want to hurt anyone at the airport”.
It comes as heartbreaking footage appears to show desperate mums throwing babies over barbed wire in a last-ditch bid for safety.
Twelve people have been killed since Sunday as they attempted to flee the city, according to reports, amid fears the true number could be far higher.
Harrowing scenes showed hundreds gathered on the tarmac in a desperate effort to leave after the Taliban returned to power.
Videos taken earlier this week captured a crowd of people running alongside a US military plane as it moved to take off, with some clinging to its wheels.
NATO officials say 12 people have died in and around the airport either as a result of gunshots or a stampede.
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REUTERS)
But the Taliban has urged people to leave the airport and go back to their homes.
A spokesman for the Islamist group, which seized power in Kabul at the weekend, said in a brief statement: “We don’t want to hurt anyone at the airport.”
Afghan civilians, families, and those who helped the US military but now fear retribution from the Taliban are trying to escape.
It comes after a heartbreaking video emerged appearing to show desperate Afghans try to hoist a baby over barbed wire in a frantic bid to escape the Taliban.
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AFP via Getty Images)
It was posted on social media and appears to show a large group of people pushing up against a barbed wire fence.
As the camera pans to the right a young child is seen to be lifted up into the air and pushed along, seemingly in a bid to move along the barbed wire.
One social media user who shared the footage said: “People are so desperate to escape the Taliban that they’re passing babies and kids forward to the gate at Kabul airport.”
A senior officer described the heart-wrenching scenes from Kabul.
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REUTERS)
Speaking to Sky News, they said: “It was terrible, women were throwing their babies over the razor wire, asking the soldiers to take them, some got caught in the wire.
“I’m worried for my men, I’m counselling some, everyone cried last night.”
Taliban fighters are now said to be using guns, whips and sticks to stop Afghans getting to Kabul airport.
Thursday is Afghanistan Independence Day, which marks the end of British rule in 1919.
A Taliban spokesman said of their commemorations: “Fortunately, today we are celebrating the anniversary of independence from Britain.
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Sky News)
“We at the same time as a result of our jihadi resistance forced another arrogant of power of the world, the United States, to fail and retreat from our holy territory of Afghanistan.”
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that the Taliban are co-operating with the British by allowing people through to be evacuated.
But he believes the real challenge for embassy staff at the airport is “crowd issues” as thousands continue to attempt to get to safety.
“It is very, very difficult for those soldiers dealing with some desperate, desperate people,” he told Kay Burley.
The UK has pledged to take in 20,000 Afghan refugees.
But the plans have been slammed but Priti Patel has defended the scheme, having been accused of not doing enough to support the victims.
