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Kabul airport attack survivors say U.S. troops fired at crowd
Updated 14:33, 30-Aug-2021
CGTN
01:04

Afghan survivors from last week's suicide bombing at Kabul airport said they were shot at by U.S. troops, a digital platform of the China Media Group (CMG) reported on Monday. 

"I felt that there were a lot of people being wounded or killed by gunshots," one of the survivors told a CMG reporter. 

Some casualties inflicted during the attack were from gunshots fired by foreign troops at the scene, CMG previously reported.

Throngs of Afghans and foreign citizens have been rushing to the airport since the Taliban took over Kabul earlier this month. Uncertain about what the Taliban's rule will be like, they have been eager to get on a flight before August 31, when U.S. forces are scheduled to leave the country altogether. 

Areas surrounding the airport were often congested and disorderly, leaving the site highly vulnerable to terrorist attacks. On August 26, a suicide bomber detonated himself, triggering an explosion that tore through crowds trying to get into the U.S.-controlled facility.

"I was not injured from the explosion, but American soldiers fired at us," said another survivor who was shot in his hand and left side of his waist.

Not all casualties were caused by the suicide bombing for which ISIS-K, the Afghan branch of ISIS, has claimed responsibility, according to a CMG report, which cited statements from some of their families and the wounded. 

One of the fatalities showed no signs of other injuries except for gunshot wounds, the only cause of death determined by a doctor, according to the victim's family. 

American, Turkish and other foreign troops fired their weapons during the chaos after the bomb went off at the airport, eyewitnesses at the scene told CMG.

At least three people were shot dead, they said.

The U.S. military has not responded to the issue.

An Afghan interpreter told CMG his wife and 6-year-old son were both shot in their ankles. The interpreter had previously worked for American forces. 

Prior to the suicide bombing, America and its Western allies had warned that terror attacks were very likely to take place at the airport.

Countries involved in the evacuation had urged people to stay away, but the attack nonetheless achieved its maximum effect. At least 170 Afghans and 13 U.S. service members were killed.

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