BREAKING NEWS

American, Australian teachers kidnapped in Afghanistan

By REUTERS

AUGUST 8, 2016 10:03

Afghan authorities are searching for an Australian and an American who were kidnapped by gunmen in the capital, Kabul, officials said on Monday.

The pair are teachers at Kabul University and were taken by four or five gunmen from a nearby road at around 8 p.m. on Sunday, an official with the Ministry of Interior said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The Australian Embassy in Kabul confirmed one of its citizens had been apparently abducted but said it would not comment further due to privacy and safety considerations.

"We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan because of the extremely dangerous security situation, including the serious threat of kidnapping," the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.

The US State Department said in a statement it was aware of reports an American was kidnapped but had no other information to offer.

Kidnapping is a major problem in Afghanistan, affecting mostly Afghans although a number of foreigners have also been abducted in recent years.

An Indian aid worker, Judith D'Souza, was abducted in Kabul in June and was later released.

At least two other foreigners, from Germany and the Netherlands, were taken from the same neighborhood in separate incidents last year.

Both of those women were eventually released unharmed, with police saying the kidnappings were most likely financially motivated.

In June, Afghan police began advising foreigners living in the capital they should travel with guards or avoid leaving their homes.

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