US troops have been firing warning shots to disperse thousands of desperate Afghans outside Kabul airport as frantic Western expats told MailOnline they can't get 'anywhere near' the gates because of the 'terrified locals.'
Footage taken last night showed stun grenades flashing beside the perimeter and expats who tried to get through the gate say the military entrance said shots were fired by Western troops.
Westerners and visa holders trying to get to their flights say they are unable to get to the gates because of the crowd of up to 50,000 desperate locals who are gathering at the gates.
At the main entrance, Taliban fighters periodically fire into the air to clear the crowd in an attempt to disperse the crowd - but video of the fighters unleashing a volley of automatic fire shows the terrifying gauntlet evacuees have to negotiate.
Taliban fighters were seen shooting over the heads of crowds, striking people with rifles, while those on the ground reported beatings and whippings being dished out seemingly at random.
Crowds have also gathered at the entrance to the military wing of the airport, which is guarded by US and British troops who have been firing into the air to disperse the crowds.
Westerners face a race against time to get out of Kabul, with control of the airport resting on the up to 60,000 troops.
Joe Biden has said they will stay until all US citizens are evacuated, but there are suspicions among British troops that they could leave abruptly - leaving the 600 British unable to keep operating to evacuate UK nationals and interpreters.
Paul 'Pen' Farthing, a former Marine who now lives in Kabul with his wife, told MailOnline that British troops fired warning shots over the heads of a mother who was clutching a small baby.
'There were a number of shots fired overhead and people started rushing around in panic. I don't know whether it was live rounds but even if it wasn't the fear factor is the same,' he said. 'It does nothing to resolve the matter and makes an already tense situation much worse.'
While US and UK troops have said that firing warning shots is a last resort, the Taliban are causing pandemonium and were filmed today shooting from the hip just yards away from women and children, and whacking people with the butts of their rifles.
Such is the desperation among crowds at the airport that women have resorted to passing babies over barbed wire to soldiers in a vain attempt to get them out of the country.
Despite the danger, defiant women today marched through Kabul in protest, holding the national flags in defiance of the Islamists to mark their country's independence day.
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US troops at Kabul airport are using tear gas to control crowds of frantic Afghans who are trying to climb over to be put on evacuation flights. Footage shows shots being fired into the air in the darkness to disperse crowds
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Taliban gunmen open fire at crowds outside Kabul airport today as westerners and visa holders say they cannot get inside because of 'huge crowds' of 'terrified locals'
Those on the ground say Taliban guards have little idea who to let inside the airport, while dishing out beatings, lashings and firing shots seemingly at random - causing further panic and chaos
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Babies were thrown over barbed wire towards troops at Kabul airport in a desperate bid to get them out of the country as the west's ignominious exit from Afghanistan continued
A young girl is passed to US soldiers guarding Hamid Karzai airport amid a desperate scramble to get out of the country by tens of thousands of Afghans who don't want to be ruled by the Taliban
A British soldier carries an Afghan girl away from crowds at the gate, as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today urged people not to pass their children to troops because they will not get a seat on flights out
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Footage taken last night showed stun grenades flashing beside the perimeter and expats who tried to get through the gate say the military entrance said shots were fired by Western troops.
Westerners and visa holders trying to get to their flights say they are unable to get to the gates because of the crowd of up to 50,000 desperate locals who are gathering at the gates.
At the main entrance, Taliban fighters periodically fire into the air to clear the crowd in an attempt to disperse the crowd - but video of the fighters unleashing a volley of automatic fire shows the terrifying gauntlet evacuees have to negotiate.
Taliban fighters were seen shooting over the heads of crowds, striking people with rifles, while those on the ground reported beatings and whippings being dished out seemingly at random.
Crowds have also gathered at the entrance to the military wing of the airport, which is guarded by US and British troops who have been firing into the air to disperse the crowds.
Westerners face a race against time to get out of Kabul, with control of the airport resting on the up to 60,000 troops.
Joe Biden has said they will stay until all US citizens are evacuated, but there are suspicions among British troops that they could leave abruptly - leaving the 600 British unable to keep operating to evacuate UK nationals and interpreters.
Paul 'Pen' Farthing, a former Marine who now lives in Kabul with his wife, told MailOnline that British troops fired warning shots over the heads of a mother who was clutching a small baby.
'There were a number of shots fired overhead and people started rushing around in panic. I don't know whether it was live rounds but even if it wasn't the fear factor is the same,' he said. 'It does nothing to resolve the matter and makes an already tense situation much worse.'
While US and UK troops have said that firing warning shots is a last resort, the Taliban are causing pandemonium and were filmed today shooting from the hip just yards away from women and children, and whacking people with the butts of their rifles.
Such is the desperation among crowds at the airport that women have resorted to passing babies over barbed wire to soldiers in a vain attempt to get them out of the country.
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US troops at Kabul airport are using tear gas to control crowds of frantic Afghans who are trying to climb over to be put on evacuation flights. Footage shows shots being fired into the air in the darkness to disperse crowds
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Watch video Moment investing banker punches woman on Brooklyn street
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Watch video Rescued hostage Noa Argamani celebrates her father's birthday
Watch video Reckless youths hitch a ride in London by clinging to back of a bus
Watch video Rishi tries gardening on the campaign trail as D-day row rages on
Watch video Bolton: 'A vote for Reform is going to remove an ardent Brexiteer'
Watch video Moment family is reunited with their missing miniature Dachshund
Watch video Adorable moment Taylor Swift celebrates fans who proposed at concert
Watch video 2021: Dead Ringers spoofs 'Paddington bear of doctors' Michael Mosley
Watch video Excited Swifties begin queueing early for Taylor Swift's second show
Watch video Moment Noa Argamani gets rescued from Hamas captivity in helicopter
Taliban gunmen open fire at crowds outside Kabul airport today as westerners and visa holders say they cannot get inside because of 'huge crowds' of 'terrified locals'
Those on the ground say Taliban guards have little idea who to let inside the airport, while dishing out beatings, lashings and firing shots seemingly at random - causing further panic and chaos
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Watch video Two planes nearly collide on flight runway at Mumbai airport in India
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Watch video Nigel Farage: İstanbul Escort Bayan Rishi Sunak 'is not fit to lead the country'
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Watch video 2021: Dead Ringers spoofs 'Paddington bear of doctors' Michael Mosley
Babies were thrown over barbed wire towards troops at Kabul airport in a desperate bid to get them out of the country as the west's ignominious exit from Afghanistan continued
A young girl is passed to US soldiers guarding Hamid Karzai airport amid a desperate scramble to get out of the country by tens of thousands of Afghans who don't want to be ruled by the Taliban
A British soldier carries an Afghan girl away from crowds at the gate, as Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today urged people not to pass their children to troops because they will not get a seat on flights out
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Watch video Adorable moment Taylor Swift celebrates fans who proposed at concert
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Watch video Moment Noa Argamani gets rescued from Hamas captivity in helicopter