Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
World
Martin Farrer

‘Hell on earth’: what the papers say about the Kabul bomb blasts

Some newspaper front pages following a deadly bomb blast in Afghanistan.
Some newspaper front pages following a deadly bomb blast in Afghanistan. Composite: Various

The atrocity in Afghanistan dominates the front pages of newspapers in the UK and all over the world, with an image of two women left bloodied and bewildered by the attack chosen by many editors to illustrate the story.

The photograph taken by Wakil Khosar for Agence France-Presse is the main picture on the front of half a dozen UK papers, including the Guardian, which carries the headline “Carnage in Kabul: dozens killed in airport bombing”.

The Telegraph has the same picture and the headline “Twelve US troops die in Kabul blasts”.

The Mirror has the headline “Barbaric” laid across the same picture as it reports on the “race against time” to evacuate people still stuck in Kabul and says that British troops are braced for more Isis attacks.

The Mail also uses the picture but editorialises in its splash headline about “The tragic price of surrender”. Its subhead says that US president Joe Biden “justified retreat to spare American soldiers’ lives – though not one had been lost in 18 months”.

The Sun’s front page headline is “Hell on Earth” along with what it says is a picture of children showing British passports at the site of the bombing hours before it took place.

The Times front page has “Scores killed in Kabul attack”. It also reports that staff evacuating the British embassy in Kabul left papers scattered across its compound giving details of Afghans who had worked for the coalition, posing a potential risk to their safety if the Taliban found the details.

The FT headline reads “Dozens feared killed in wave of explosions at Kabul airport”, while the i says “Refugees and US marines murdered side by side”.

The Express has “12 US troops killed in Kabul carnage”.

In Spain, El Mundo’s headline says “Jihadism imposes its victory with a bloodbath on the US”, while El País says “Massacre in the evacuastion of Kabul”.

In Scotland, the National headline is “At least 70 dead as Kabul airport hit by two blasts”, alongside a lead on a possible second Scottish independence referendum.

The Indian Express says “12 US troops among those killed in blast at Kabul airport; Taliban witness, Isis-K suspect”, while the Hindustan Times has “Terror in heart of Kabul, explosions rock airport”.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
43 Actors Who Thought They Were Too Good For Their Franchises And Left, Only To Ruin Their Careers
Fans tend to associate actors with the specific characters they play in well-known franchises. Their roles can be so legendary that they practically become those characters. And yet, some stars think that they have outgrown their roles and set out to look for greener pastures. In a discussion sparked online,…
Bored Panda
Bored Panda
Wait – Is Taylor Swift Actually Performing at the Brits This Year?
Wait – Is Taylor Swift Actually Performing at the Brits This Year?
Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Brad Pitt And Angelina Jolie’s Wine Battle Is In Year 4. Are They Close To A ‘Truce’ Yet?
The saga continues.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
Bianca Belair And Bad Bunny Were Rumored For WrestleMania, But One Now Seems Way More Likely
There are two major updates to share on both.
Cinemablend
Cinemablend
'It has not been retitled, it's called Man of Tomorrow': James Gunn debunks wild rumor that his Superman sequel has a new title
The DC Studios co-chief has responded to a recent report that his Superman follow-up has undergone a title change.
TechRadar
TechRadar
Why You Should Stop Buying Pre-Shredded Cheese
We have all grabbed that bag of shredded cheddar for convenience on taco night. It saves us the time and effort of getting out the grater and cleaning it later. However, that convenience comes with hidden costs that affect both your wallet and your cooking. Once you switch back to…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play