State Dept. tells Hill staff to stop directing people to Kabul airport following blast

The details: The email was sent by the principal deputy assistant secretary in the Bureau of Legislative Affairs at the State Department.

• “Please blast the following out to your lists,” she writes. “We are hearing reports of congressional staff continuing to direct individuals to HKIA.”
• The message continues, “All staff engaging in this type of uncoordinated messaging to people on the ground must cease due to the security situation.”
• Many members and their staff have been actively engaged with constituents on evacuation efforts.

The email also contains a security alert sent by the U.S. Embassy in Kabul detailing the explosion and reports of gunfire, which tells U.S. citizens to stay away from the airport.

• “U.S. citizens should avoid traveling to the airport and avoid airport gates at this time,” it says.
• It goes on to instruct U.S. citizens who are at the gates into the airport “should leave immediately.”

Go deeper: Explosions at Kabul airport caused U.S. and civilian casualties, Pentagon confirms