UK sees very credible threat of imminent IS Kabul airport attack

FILE PHOTO: Airman assist Afghan evacuees onto a shuttle, August 23, 2021, at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar. Picture taken August 23, 2021. U.S. Air Force/Senior Airman Noah D. Coger/Handout via REUTERS/Files

LONDON (Reuters) -There is "very, very credible" intelligence that Islamic State militants are planning an imminent attack on those gathering at Kabul airport in an attempt to flee Afghanistan, British armed forces minister James Heappey said on Thursday.

Late on Wednesday, Britain's foreign ministry advised people not to travel to the Kabul Hamid Karzai International Airport where thousands are waiting for flights out of the country ahead of an Aug. 31 deadline when the United States and its allies will pull out their remaining troops.