KABUL airport has been rocked by two fatal explosions with several people thought to have been killed in the blasts.

One explosion is believed to have occurred at the Baron Hotel where British troops and journalists have been staying, followed by gunfire, while the other happened at the Abbey Gate entrance to the Hamid Karzai International Airport.

Officials do not think at this stage there were any UK casualties, military or civilian and believe there were two explosions.

It comes after warnings that a terror attack could be launched on the airport as evacuation efforts are carried out.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is to chair a Cobra meeting today (August 26) after he was briefed on the explosions.

A Downing Street spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister has been updated on the situation at the airport in Kabul and will chair a COBR later this afternoon.”

US Pentagon spokesman John Kirby confirmed there had been at least two explosions.

In a tweet, he said: “We can confirm that the explosion at the Abbey Gate was the result of a complex attack that resulted in a number of US & civilian casualties.

“We can also confirm at least one other explosion at or near the Baron Hotel, a short distance from Abbey Gate. We will continue to update.”

Reports are suggesting that as many as 13 people were killed in the attacks, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

Around 60 people wounded in the attacks are being treated at a nearby surgical centre, according to Emergency, a charity that runs a network of war hospitals and first-aid posts across Afghanistan.

A UK Government spokesperson has said that they are "working urgently" to find out what happened and how it impacts the ongoing evacuation effort.

They added: “Our primary concern remains the safety of our personnel, British citizens and the citizens of Afghanistan. We are in close contact with our US and other Nato allies at an operational level on the immediate response to this incident.”

Armed forces minister James Heappey previously warned there is “very credible reporting” of an “imminent” and “severe” threat to Kabul airport.

He had urged people queuing outside the airport to move to safety amid concerns over an affiliate of the so-called Islamic State in Afghanistan, known as Isis-K.

Conservative MP Alicia Kearns, a member of the foreign affairs and national security strategy committees, said there had been “so many hurt” in a bomb or gun attack at the Baron Hotel in Kabul.

She tweeted: “A bomb or attack with gun fire at northern gate of Baron’s hotel. Worried this will devastate evacuation – so many hurt. My heart is with all those injured and killed.”

She added: “No I’m not just worried, I’m livid, and I’m heartbroken and I’m furious. The deals being done without UK input by ‘allies’. Taliban checkpoints stopping our people but not terrorists. There are people – damn good people – who for days have been trying to get out, now fleeing.”

Tory MP Nus Ghani said she was on the phone to somebody outside Kabul airport when the explosion happened.

The Wealden MP tweeted: “Explosion at Kabul airport. I was on the phone to an Afghan outside the airport when he heard the explosion.

“Praying that he gets away safely and we get his family safe passage out of this nightmare.”

Shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said the attack outside Kabul airport was “appalling and cowardly”.

She tweeted: “Devastating reports from Kabul. This is an appalling and cowardly attack on those already fleeing unimaginable horrors. My thoughts are with the Afghan people and the British, US and international personnel who have remained at the airport to save as many lives as possible.”

Labour leader Keir Starmer described the Kabul airport attack as “devastating”.

Writing on Twitter, he said: “Devastating reports from Kabul. Our thoughts are with all those killed and wounded, serving personnel supporting the evacuations and all those desperately trying to leave.

“The bravery of the troops at the airport will always outweigh the cowardice of those who wish to harm us.”

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron (below, right, with Irish Taoiseach Micheal Martin) has said he will co-ordinate with “our American allies” in response to the explosions.

The National:

Speaking in French on a bilateral visit to Dublin, he said: “As we speak in front of you, the situation is worsening around the military airport.

“We are being confronted with a very tense situation, which leads us to co-ordinate with our American allies.

“We will also closely co-ordinate on the issues to be dealt with in the near future, military co-operation, migration issues and co-operate with the UN Security Council, because in the coming days and weeks we will have to define the course of the mandate of the United Nations.

“The coming hours will remain extremely dangerous in Kabul and around the airport.”