US ambassador and embassy flag arrive at airport after diplomats torch sensitive documents and flee in choppers

Escape from Kabul: US ambassador and embassy flag arrive at airport after diplomats torch sensitive documents and flee in choppers – as Taliban fighters storm Afghan capital – in stark echoes of the Fall of Saigon

• Helicopter – believed to be US Air Force Chinook – seen flying over Kabul today from the US Embassy in Kabul 
• It comes as Taliban closes in on the Afghan capital with shots heard on outskirts before fighters stormed city
• Around 3,000 US troops have been sent into city to aid with US evacuation, while British troops also deployed
• It is believed around 500 British staff needed to be evacuated and by Saturday the number was in ‘the tens’ 

The US ambassador and embassy staff are fleeing Afghanistan after Taliban forces stormed Kabul.

In a scene mirroring that of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam war, a US Air Force helicopter was seen taking off from the US embassy earlier today.

The Chinook helicopter was seen taking to the skies above the city – just like in 1975 when a US Marine helicopter was seen evacuating embassy staff from Vietnamese capital.

Later, the ambassador and the embassy flag were seen at an airport after the insurgents made huge gains across the country.

Smoke was also seen rising from near to the US embassy earlier today as security staff work to burn any important documents, including CIA information, or material that could be used ‘in propaganda efforts’. The US flag is soon expected to be lowered, signalling the official closure of the embassy.

It comes as the US steps up its evacuation of Kabul with Taliban fighters quickly moving in ‘from all sides’.  Shots were heard on the outskirts of the capital earlier today, much earlier than first anticipated, before fighters poured into the city.

US Intelligence officials had expected Kabul to hold out for three months, while UK ministers were hoping they had until the end of the month.

Leaders of the extremist group have today demanded the Afghan government surrender the city to them in a bid to avoid bloodshed – adding the chilling warning ‘we’ve not declared a ceasefire’.

As many as 10,000 US citizens are being evacuated from the city. Around 3,000 US troops are being sent to aid the mission.

Meanwhile, Special Forces units are joining 600 British troops from the 16 Air Assault Brigade, including 150 Paratroopers, while RAF planes are being scrambled from around the world, to airlift more than 500 British Government employees out of Kabul.

It is believed that by Saturday night that the number of UK officials still in Afghanistan had been reduced to the ‘low tens’ – including ambassador Sir Laurie Bristow.

The UK Government says it aims to get British ambassador Sir Laurie and his remaining embassy staff out by Sunday night – amid fears the Taliban could seize Kabul airport within days.

There are also fears about the safety of thousands of translators who are concerned they may be viewed as ‘traitors’ by the extremist Taliban.

It is understood the plans is to evacuate the translators and their families, though there are concerns that the evacuation efforts may be hampered if fighters quickly reach Kabul airport.

Taliban officials today demanded foreigners who don’t leave to register their presence with Taliban administrators in the coming days. While western countries such as the US and UK have opted to evacuate staff, Russia today confirmed that it did not intend to evacuate its embassy staff in Kabul. 

The Chinook helicopter was seen taking to the skies above the city – just like in 1975 when a US Marine helicopter was seen evacuating embassy staff from Vietnamese capital (pictured)