February 9, 2015
The U.S. Embassy in Afghanistan received the following information concerning a threat to U.S. citizens living in Afghanistan:
As of December 2014, militants intended to kidnap one or more U.S. citizens in Kabul City, Kabul Province, Afghanistan by executing a complex attack using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED). The militants intended to either kill or distract the occupants of the vehicle with the VBIED, allowing for a follow-on abduction team to approach the vehicle to kidnap U.S. officials moving on foot or meeting in Kabul businesses or restaurants.
We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or residing in Afghanistan enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy to contact you in an emergency. If you don’t have Internet access, enroll directly with the U.S. Embassy.
U.S. citizens in Afghanistan should regularly monitor the Travel Advisories on the website of the Embassy of the United States Kabul, Afghanistan, as well as the Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website, where the Worldwide Caution, Country Specific Information and the Travel Warning for Afghanistan are found. In addition, the Embassy encourages U.S. citizens to review “A Traveler’s Checklist ” which includes valuable security information for those traveling or living in foreign countries. You can also follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and on Facebook. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
The U.S. Embassy 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 toKabulACS@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.
