Civilians Killed At Kabul Airport Amid Reports Of Shooting, Stampedes, Falling Stowaways

Witnesses said Monday that at least five people had died among the chaos at Kabul airport amid the frantic rush by thousands of foreigners and Afghans to flee to safety after a stunningly swift Taliban takeover of the heart of Afghanistan’s capital.

The Reuters news agency said witnesses reported seeing at least five bodies at the airfield.

It was unclear if they were shot or died during a stampede, or whether there might be any other causes of death.

A US official said American troops fired into the air to scatter crowds running to try and board planes. There was no official comment from the US on the deaths.

Some reports suggested that people had tied themselves to the wheels of planes and fallen to the ground as the aircraft flew over Kabul.

Video posted to social media showed chaotic scenes on the runway as desperate Afghans rushed to try to board aircraft, not knowing if these might be the final flights.

Taliban forces moved early Sunday into a capital beset by fear and declared they were awaiting a peaceful surrender, capping a stunning sweep of Afghanistan in just the past week.

The US poured thousands of fresh troops into the country temporarily to safeguard what was gearing up to be a large-scale airlift. It announced late Sunday it was taking charge of air-traffic control at the airport, even as it lowered the flag at the US Embassy.