U.S. Embassy Kabul | September 21, 2015
The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan received the following threat information against U.S. citizens in Afghanistan:
As of early September 2015, militants planned to conduct suicide attacks against the U.S. or U.K. Embassies in Kabul City, Kabul Province, Afghanistan; the Continental Hotel in Kabul City; and the White House Hotel in Jalalabad City, Behsud District, Nangarhar Province, Afghanistan. There was no further information concerning the specific timing, method, target or location for any planned attack.
As of mid-September 2015, militants were planning to conduct multiple vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED) attacks against U.S. persons or convoys in Kabul City, Kabul Province, Afghanistan. The militants possibly intended to conduct attacks against U.S. persons or convoys in or around the U.S. Embassy, the Kabul International Airport, and other targets of opportunity throughout Kabul City. The militants planned to use a variety of vehicles, to include Toyota Land Cruisers, Toyota Corollas, Datsun pick-up trucks, and station wagons in the attacks. There were no further details regarding the targets, timing, or method of any planned attacks.
As a reminder, in accordance with the Travel Warning for Afghanistan, the Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Afghanistan. The security situation in Afghanistan is extremely unstable, and the threat to all U.S. citizens in Afghanistan remains critical. U.S. citizens currently visiting or residing in Afghanistan may wish to consider departing. The Embassy strongly urges U.S. citizens who decide to remain in Afghanistan to review your personal security plans, take appropriate steps to enhance your personal safety, remain aware of your surroundings, monitor local media for updates, and maintain a high level of vigilance.
For further information:
- See the State Department’s travel website for the Worldwide Caution, Travel Warning for Afghanistan, Travel Alerts, andAfghanistan Country Specific Information.
- Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
- Contact the U.S. Embassy, which is located at Great Massoud Road between Radio Afghanistan and the Ministry of Public Health in Kabul. To reach the American Citizen Services (ACS) unit of the Consular Section during business hours, please call 0700-108-499 or send an email to KabulACS@state.gov. You can also reach the ACS unit through the Embassy’s switchboard by calling 0700-108-001/002. For after-hours emergencies involving U.S. citizens, please call the Consular Duty Officer at 0700-10-8001.
- Call 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or 1-202-501-4444 from other countries from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).