Former Afghan British Embassy guards claim G4S BLOCKED their numbers when they ...

Former Afghan British Embassy guards claim G4S BLOCKED their numbers when they ...
Former Afghan British Embassy guards claim G4S BLOCKED their numbers when they ...

Former Afghan British Embassy guards have claimed staff from UK security firm G4S promised to help them when they escaped Kabul but instead blocked their numbers.

The ex-workers, who MailOnline is not naming for their safety, said they had been reassured the company would lobby governments to help get them out.

But they revealed they have been left behind to be killed by the 'Taliban wolves' and have gone into hiding with their terrified families.

G4S said it has been 'very active in supporting the 278 Afghan nationals who were employed in Kabul' and used 'every measure available to assist them'.

About 300 Afghans were employed by the firm to protect government workers at sites in Kabul up until its contract ended in June 2020.

Most are believed to have applied for coveted places on one of the UK-bound flights through the Afghan relocation and assistance policy (Arap) when the Taliban rose.

Yet many were rejected because they were employed as contractors and not directly by the British.

On Friday the UK government announced a partial U-turn, with the Foreign Office committing to dishing out visas to security staff hired through GardaWorld.

The move does little to help former guards who worked for G4S who are now desperately searching for a way out of Afghanistan.

The ex-workers, who MailOnline is not naming for their safety, said they had been reassured the company would lobby governments to help get them out. Pictured: The British Embassy

 The ex-workers, who MailOnline is not naming for their safety, said they had been reassured the company would lobby governments to help get them out. Pictured: The British Embassy

They revealed they have been left behind to be killed by the 'Taliban wolf' (pictured yesterday) and have gone into hiding with their terrified families

They revealed they have been left behind to be killed by the 'Taliban wolf' (pictured yesterday) and have gone into hiding with their terrified families

About 300 Afghans were employed by G4S to protect government workers at sites in Kabul up until its contract ended in June 2020. Pictured: Kabul airport on Saturday

About 300 Afghans were employed by G4S to protect government workers at sites in Kabul up until its contract ended in June 2020. Pictured: Kabul airport on Saturday

'We would shoot you dead if the world wasn't watching': Taliban's threat to British student

A British medical student who fled Kabul was told by Taliban guards he would have been shot dead if the world was not watching - in a terrifying foreshadowing of the fate that could face thousands left behind once western evacuation flights stop.

The 25-year-old, who is now staying at a south London hotel with his wife and asked not to be named, said Islamists threatened the couple after he showed them his British passport while trying to get into Kabul airport. 

'If we were not under pressure from international society we would have shot you dead,' the student was told, adding that he has 'zero percent confidence' that the Taliban will keep their promises prevent revenge attacks against those who helped British and American forces.

Advertisement

One former G4S contractor said after the evacuation they did not hear anything about getting them out and claimed they had their phone numbers blocked by G4S staff.

He told MailOnline: 'Now that our lives are in danger no one is helping us, we were always at the front line with expats and internationals staff in every governmental organisation.'

He continued: 'Those internationals are sitting safe in their house and left us alone here in the middle of the wolfs.

'Now Taliban are looking for us and sooner or later they will find each and every one of us and definitely they will cut off our heads.

'I am not worried about my self so is my other colleagues but we have families and kids which have no one else to feed them and care about them.'

He added: 'Now you guys are in a safe place now what are you guys going to do for us later?

'They promised that by getting safe to their country they will raise our voice to the government of their country.

'But by the time they left Afghanistan they blocked our Whatsapp and numbers so we could not call them.

'To the last moment we were honest with the company... they left us behind to be killed by the wolf.'

Another, who said the Taliban has already started hunting him and sent gunmen to the alleyway outside his house last week, also slammed G4S's conduct.

 

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK on Saturday

An RAF plane was filled to capacity with embassy staff, British nationals and any Afghans able to settle in the UK on Saturday

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

Thousands of Afghans could be left behind in Kabul as ministers push to extend the deadline for the last British evacuation flight beyond Tuesday. Pictured: British citizens catching a flight earlier this week

Ben Wallace rebukes 'confused' Pen Farthing after former Royal Marine complained that charter flight to take his staff and rescue animals out of Kabul is being blocked

Ben Wallace today rebuked a former Royal Marine for complaining that UK forces are blocking a charter flight from taking his staff and rescue dogs out of Kabul.

The Defence Secretary insisted he will not 'prioritise pets over people' after Paul Farthing - known as Pen - vented fury that he was being prevented from using the privately-funded plane. 

The 52-year-old said he had been 'left to fend for myself' after organising the flight for his 25 Afghan staff as well as the charity's dogs and cats. He announced the UK Government granted visas for all of his staff and their dependents.

But in a round of interviews a clearly frustrated Mr Wallace while Mr Farthing had done 'amazing' work, all the plane would achieve if it landed in Kabul was to 'block the airfield' and 'sit there empty'.

Advertisement

Asked what the company did to help, he said: 'They did nothing. They just said sorry we can do nothing for you guys and we said that our lives are under threat we need to be evacuate as soon as possible.'

A third said: 'Unfortunately G4S completely abandoned us. We have no connection with them.

'I have sent many emails to G4S country director and HQ but no response. On the last day when Kabul collapsed, G4S paid our salaries and told us that they are not responsible for anything.

'We knew the country will collapse and we asked G4S many times to push UK government to include us in ARAP scheme as we worked for a British Security Firm and supported their embassy in the past.

'The UK has recently announced that all 125 GardaWorld security staff including security guards will be relocated to UK while they got the UK embassy security contract just a few months ago.

'This was the result of their senior management who fight for the rights of their staff but G4S did nothing for us.'

Meanwhile one man, who was one of 60 close protection operators previously working for G4S as security for the World Bank, said his emails and calls have been left unanswered.

He said: 'Nobody contacted us still from G4S nor from British Embassy. G4S Security has no any contact with us, nor response to our email or calls.'

He added: 'We are stuck here in Kabul, can't go out, can't stay in forever.'

And another CPO - who had worked at the World Bank via G4S from 2005 - claimed the firm sacked its Afghan staff when they left.

He said: 'We are 60 CPOs here which our life and our families life is under serious danger for the sake of today's security situation in Afghanistan.'

He added: 'They're released all staff in Afghanistan. Now they saying we can't help you.'

A spokesman for G4S said: 'G4S has been very active in supporting the 278 Afghan nationals who were employed in Kabul and we've used every measure available to assist them during this difficult time.

'We have made strong representations to the UK Foreign Office, and we've provided employees with Certificates of Employment and letters of recommendation to support their applications for the UK Government's Afghan relocation scheme.

'Afghans employed at the British Embassy Kabul were employed by another security provider, wholly unconnected to G4S.

'We are continuing to work with the UK government to support a safe outcome for our employees in Afghanistan.'  

Taliban fighters stand guard on their side at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Torkham, in Khyber district, Pakistan

Taliban fighters stand guard on their side at a border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan, in Torkham, in Khyber district, Pakistan

Some Afghans have been scrambling to bag a place on mercy flights out of the fallen capital, while others have gone to ground, and some have made it over the Pakistan border (pictured)

Some Afghans have been scrambling to bag a place on mercy flights out of the fallen capital, while others have gone to ground, and some have made it over the Pakistan border (pictured)

It's a no from Joe: Ministers dismiss hopes of extending Kabul airlift beyond August 31

Ministers have dismissed hopes that Joe Biden will extend the August 31 deadline for withdrawing US troops from Afghanistan as the UK, France and Germany prepare to make a last-ditch plea in G7 talks today.

Boris Johnson, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel are expected to push the case for keeping the evacuation operation in place longer with thousands of desperate people still flocking to Kabul airport.

However, Mr Johnson and Mr Biden discussed the airlift in a call last night without making any progress, and the Taliban has warned of 'consequences' if there is an attempt to cling on.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said this morning it is 'unlikely' the deadline will be extended, after the RAF extracted another 2,000 people in the past 24 hours.

'I think it is unlikely. Not only because of what the Taliban has said but if you look at the public statements of President Biden I think it is unlikely,' Mr Wallace said.

'It is definitely worth us all trying, and we will.'

Advertisement

Afghans who worked for the British or other Nato forces during the war are becoming increasingly fearful for their lives now the Taliban have seized power.

Some have been desperately scrambling to bag a place on mercy flights out of the fallen capital, while others have gone to ground.

There is a race against time for them to escape the country before Western powers are expected to leave at the end of the month due to the US's withdrawal.

The Taliban, which sees itself as a revitalised version of the brutal regime in power during the 1990s, claims it will not harm citizens.

Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the group, today urged Afghans to 'return to their homes and resume their calm everyday lives'.

He told a press conference in Kabul crowding at the airport was dangerous and 'people could lose their lives'.

Those who worked with the British and Americans over the last two decades rubbished the idea they were safe and expect to be executed and have their family punished when the coalition forces leave.

One, who said he was an interpreter with the British Army in Helmand Province from 2007 to 2009 before joining G4S in 2018, said he was terrified.

He said: 'My face was recognised while on duty with British forces. As you know security in Kabul is now violent, I am ambushed by suspicious armed guys.

'I found a threat letter, I have received various threats such as text messages, calls, I am pursued by

read more from dailymail.....

PREV Americans eagerly prepare for rare total solar eclipse mogaznewsen
NEXT Doctors first 'dismissed' this young girl's cancer symptom before her parents ... trends now