Deputy national security adviser calls alarming images from Afghan capital ‘very serious’ and insists Biden remains ‘deeply engaged’
2.29pm BST
The Guardian’s Ben Doherty and Luke Harding report:
Desperate Afghans clung to the side of a moving US military plane leaving Kabul airport on Monday, with at least three people apparently falling to their deaths from the undercarriage immediately after takeoff.
Video: People run on tarmac of Kabul international airport as a US military aircraft attempts to take off. pic.twitter.com/9qA36HS0WQ
Related: Kabul airport: footage appears to show Afghans falling from plane after takeoff
2.28pm BST
At least five people were killed at Kabul airport this morning as desperate Afghans tried to forcibly enter US planes leaving the country, according to reports.
Reuters reports:
One witness said he had seen the bodies of five people being taken to a vehicle. Another witness said it was not clear whether the victims were killed by gunshots or in a stampede.
U.S. troops, who are in charge of the airport, earlier fired in the air to scatter the crowd, a U.S. official said.
2.28pm BST
Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.
People around the world have now seen the alarming images coming out of Kabul international airport, as terrified Afghans seek to flee the country after Taliban forces entered the capital city.
White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jonathan Finer says President Joe Biden has been “deeply engaged” on all Afghanistan policy matters.
“I expect that he will speak [about Afghanistan] soon,” he adds. pic.twitter.com/l1COmjYOV5