Peacekeepers investigate Kabul kidnap plot

International peacekeepers are investigating an alleged plot to kidnap UN workers in the Afghanistan capital of Kabul and hold them for ransom, but have made no arrests, a spokesman said today.

The plot is believed to involve two separate gangs operating in the Kart-e Parwan district of northern Kabul, not far from where three United Nations employees – one of British-Irish nationality, one from Kosovo and one from the Philippines – were kidnapped in October. They were freed after nearly a month in captivity.

Lt. Cdr. Ken MacKillop, a spokesman for the international peacekeepers in Afghanistan, said the fresh kidnapping plot was believed to target four employees of a UN office working to disarm Afghan militia fighters.

“We have shared this information with the Afghan security agencies including the police and with the United Nations,” MacKillop said.

He would not give any other information on the plot, or say whether the employees were foreigners, citing a continuing investigation. UN officials could not be reached for comment.

Earlier this month, the US embassy warned that Pakistan-based militants were planning to infiltrate relief organisations and companies in Afghanistan in a plot to abduct US citizens.

The embassy said the warning, which also cautioned that Americans were at risk from suicide attacks, was based on fresh intelligence and urged Americans to take stringent security precautions.

The Pakistani militants “planned to seek employment with non-government organisations or present themselves as construction contractors to gain access to the organisations prior to conducting a kidnapping operation,” it said in a note circulated to US citizens.