Ex-royal marine from Devon turned away into 'chaos of devastating explosions'
Paul 'Pen' Farthing says his vehicle was targeted by a gunman after the explosions at Kabul airport
Last updated 27th Aug 2021
A former Royal Marine from Devon who was near to the explosion close to Kabul airport has said his vehicle was targeted by a gunman amid the chaos.
At least 72 Afghan nationals and 13 American troops were killed in the suspected suicide bombings, following warnings that a terror attack could be launched in the final phase of the evacuation effort.
Paul Farthing, known as Pen - who founded the Nowzad shelter in Kabul - is aiming to get 200 dogs and cats out of the country alongside his animal shelter staff and a number of children.
Farthing was outside the airport in a car when the incident occurred:
"We're fine but everything is chaos here at the moment.
"All of a sudden we heard gunshots and our vehicle was targeted, had our driver not turned around he would have been shot in the head by a man with an AK-47.
"We've been in the airport, and back out of the airport; the whole thing's a mess.
"There's not much more I can say at the moment, I need to make sure the animals and everyone is safe."
Turned away into 'chaos of devastating explosions'
Farthing and his supporters have campaigned to have his staff and their families, around 68 people, as well as 140 dogs and 60 cats evacuated from the country in a plan he has dubbed 'Operation Ark'.
A glimmer of hope to escape was offered to Farthing by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who said they would 'seek a slot' for his chartered plane.
It is after Farthing accused the Ministry of Defence of delaying his evacuation plans.
But he has since tweeted to say they have been turned away, citing changes in paperwork rules being the reason.
Wildlife protection & animal welfare campaigner, Dominic Dyer, is now launching a campaign called "Operation Ark" to get Pen out of Afghanistan safely: