US Embassy In Kabul Warns Americans After Its Citizen, Several Expatriates Targeted In Attempted Kidnapping

The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan warned its citizens Thursday after an attempt was made to kidnap an American and other expatriates in Kabul. The embassy said in a statement that the threat of kidnapping and hostage-taking “continues to be very high.”

The attempted kidnapping occurred Monday in Kabul, the embassy said, but did not give any further details about the incident.

“The U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens in Kabul and other parts of Afghanistan to review your personal security plans, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal safety, remain aware of your surroundings, monitor local news for updates, and maintain a high level of vigilance,” the embassy said in the statement.

The embassy also said that it is taking the threat seriously and urged U.S. citizens to take appropriate security precautions.

The revelation comes about a week after armed men claiming to be Afghan intelligence agents allegedly kidnapped an Australian aid worker from her office in the city of Jalalabad.

"Four men in government forces' uniform abducted the woman, who is an Australian national and about 70 years old, from her office," Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, told Reuters at the time.