Gunmen abduct Australian academic in Kabul: DFAT

Gunmen have abducted an Australian academic in the Afghan capital of Kabul, confirms the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

 A member of the Afghan security forces stands guard during the first day of Eid Al-Fitr outside a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, July 6, 2016.

A member of the Afghan security forces stands guard during the first day of Eid Al-Fitr in 2016, outside a mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan. Source: AAP

Armed men have abducted an Australian academic in Kabul, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed in an email to SBS.

"The Australian Embassy in Afghanistan has confirmed the apparent kidnapping of an Australian in Kabul, Afghanistan," a spokesperson says.

"Due to privacy and security considerations we will not be commenting further.

"We continue to advise Australians not to travel to Afghanistan because of the extremely dangerous security situation, including the serious threat of kidnapping.” 

The Afghan Interior Ministry also confirmed the kidnapping.

The confirmation comes as media reported an American professor was also abducted.

The pair worked at the American University of Afghanistan and were snatched by men disguised as National Security officers, the reports say.

One report said both were doctors who did work at a Kabul hospital not far from where they were taken on Sunday night, Kabul time.

The US State Department is aware about the reports.

"We are aware of reports of a US citizen kidnapped in Kabul. Due to privacy considerations, we have no information to offer," the State Department said in a media statement.

ABC America said Kabul's police chief Abdel Rahman Rahimi had confirmed the abductions.

The university is a private, not-for-profit university, which has received millions from the US Agency for International Development.

Afghanistan remains locked in a violent insurgency and Western embassies typically warn their citizens against all but essential travel in the country, citing threats of attack and kidnapping.


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2 min read
Published 8 August 2016 8:18am
Updated 8 August 2016 9:52pm
Source: SBS, AAP


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