The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan urged Americans to be vigilant Thursday after an attempt was made to kidnap a U.S. citizen and other expatriates in the Afghan capital.
In an “emergency message” posted on the website of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, officials said an attempted kidnapping targeted foreigners in the city on Monday. No further details were released.
Officials warned the threat of kidnapping and hostage taking of Americans in Afghanistan “continues to be very high.”
The embassy advised U.S. citizens to take appropriate precautions, including avoiding “predictable travel patterns” within the country.
“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 statement read.
Last week, gunmen kidnapped an Australian development worker at dawn from her home in Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan.
The embassy statement referred to the U.S. State Department’s travel warning for Afghanistan, which advises that a risk of kidnapping exists throughout the country, and that the capital and other major cities face a “high risk for militant attacks,” including car bombs, direct and indirect fire, and suicide bombings.
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Last month, rockets were fired near Kabul’s diplomatic area within an hour of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry flying out of the country after a visit aimed at defusing Afghanistan’s political crisis.
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the rocket strikes, saying Kerry had been the intended target.