Nicola Sturgeon has sent her sympathies to the people of Afghanistan after a series of explosions left scores of people dead at Kabul airport.
Around 60 civilians have reportedly died and 140 more were injured when several blasts rocked the centre of the ongoing humanitarian crisis earlier today.
Officials say that around 12 US troops - who were part of efforts to evacuate Afghans amid the recent Taliban takeover - are believed to be among the numbers of people killed in the incident.
The First Minister described the ongoing situation in Afghanistan as a ‘horror unfolding’ as she tweeted out of respect for those impacted by the crisis.
Sturgeon wrote: “The dreadful attacks at Kabul airport today compound the horror unfolding in Afghanistan. My thoughts are with those bereaved and injured.
“We owe such a debt to our armed forced and others working against the clock to evacuate as many people as possible from this grim situation.”
The Mirror is reporting that British troops have taken a defensive position at Kabul airport following the attacks.
Paratroopers from the UK’s strike force 16th Air Assault Brigade are on high alert for further attacks and air surveillance drones are patrolling the air space above the airport.
It is believed that the attacks have been carried out by the so-called Islamic State splinter cell Isis-K. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has not confirmed or denied these claims.
The Department said that there have been no reported UK military or UK Government casualties following the incidents in the Afghan capital.
The UK will run 11 flights out of Kabul airport over the next 24 hours before it switches to evacuating British troops ahead of the August 31 deadline.
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