Man accused of aiding Kabul airport bombing faces charges in US Court

A man accused of assisting in the deadly 2021 Kabul airport bombing has been charged in a US court, the Department of Justice (DoJ) announced on Wednesday.

Mohammad Sharifullah is facing charges of providing support and resources to a foreign terrorist organization, which resulted in death. If convicted, he could receive a life sentence.

US officials allege that Sharifullah was a member of ISIS-K, the group that claimed responsibility for the attack. The bombing, which took place during the chaotic US military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, killed at least 170 Afghans and 13 American service members. The incident sparked heavy criticism of then-President Joe Biden.

Trump Announces Arrest

Current US President Donald Trump publicly announced Sharifullah’s arrest during his address to Congress on Tuesday.

“He is right now on his way here to face the swift sword of American justice,” Trump declared.

The following day, Sharifullah appeared in a US courtroom dressed in a blue prison jumpsuit, wearing a surgical mask, and communicating through an interpreter. At approximately 5 feet tall (150 cm), he stood before a packed courtroom as a judge reviewed his financial status and assigned him a defense attorney. He was ordered to remain in custody until a formal detention hearing scheduled for Monday.

Several senior justice department officials appointed by Trump praised the arrest. FBI chief Kash Patel shared an image of Sharifullah in custody, while Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “Under President Trump’s strong leadership on the world stage, this Department of Justice will ensure that terrorists like Mohammad Sharifullah have no safe haven, no second chances, and no worse enemy than the United States of America.”

Afghan Families Seek Recognition

A relative of two Afghan victims expressed frustration that Trump only mentioned the US soldiers who died, saying, “He talked about the 13 US soldiers killed but not anything about us. We want the Americans to pay attention to us and take us to America as they promised.”

The bombing at Abbey Gate occurred as thousands of Afghans desperately gathered at the airport, seeking evacuation before the Taliban regained full control of the country. The attack further eroded public confidence in Biden’s leadership.

Additional Allegations

According to the DoJ, Sharifullah admitted to his role in planning the Abbey Gate attack, including scouting possible attack routes near the airport. He also allegedly confessed to involvement in other attacks, including a June 2016 suicide bombing targeting the Canadian embassy in Kabul and the March 2024 attack on Crocus City Hall in Moscow, Russia.

Russian authorities arrested four gunmen for the Moscow attack and accused Ukraine of being involved. However, US officials claim Sharifullah admitted to training two of the arrested gunmen on how to use AK-style rifles and other weapons.

The case against Sharifullah marks a significant step in the US government’s efforts to hold those responsible for the Kabul bombing accountable. His formal detention hearing is set for Monday.