Ziayee said the woman was wearing a burqa when the party was last seen at around 10.30am travelling through the district of Chowki. He said that she was “kidnapped by the opposition” after a brief fight with local police, who gave chase into the mountains.
An official with the Kunar criminal investigation unit said local insurgents were responsible, led by a man called Mullah Basir and an associate called Qari Ruhullah. At midday, a group of 12 senior elders from the area were sent into the area where the hostages were believed to be to try to secure their release.
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I do not know any other details other than what has been reported. My heart goes out to the friends and families, and I certainly hope the kidnapers do not do to these folks like what happened earlier this year to the medical team. DAI has not had very good luck these days and perhaps they should reevaluate their security protocols?
If there was only one security guy for this entire party then I don’t call that very smart. Low profile is a great method of travel, but obviously this team was busted off the get go as having a British contractor in it. Perhaps someone sold them out or they got careless? Either way, tough deal and I hope they survive. –Matt
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Afghanistan: gunmen kidnap Briton and three co-workers
British woman and Afghan colleagues part of convoy intercepted by insurgents in Kunar province
Jon Boone in Kabul and James Meikle
Sunday 26 September 2010
A British woman working for an American company and at least three Afghan co-workers have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Afghanistan. They were in a two-vehicle convoy intercepted by insurgents in Kunar province.
Neither the Foreign Office in London nor Washington-based Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) would confirm the woman’s identity, but DAI, a contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said it was working “on a suspected abduction” and would be issuing a statement. The FO said relatives had been told and appealed to the British media not to name her.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm a British national has been abducted in Afghanistan. We are working closely with all the relevant local authorities.
“We are also in touch with the family and are providing consular assistance.”
Kunar police chief Khalilullah Ziayee said the party had been travelling from Asadabad, the capital of Kunar, to Jalalabad in the south. The party intended to visit a canal that had been built by DAI, which implements projects for USAID.
The British woman was in a car with two Afghans, one of whom was acting as a guard, the other driving the Toyota Corolla they were travelling in. In areas where security is poor, foreign nationals will often opt to travel in more ordinary looking vehicles rather than four wheel drives, as they are thought to be lower profile.
Ziayee said the woman was wearing a burqa when the party was last seen at around 10.30am travelling through the district of Chowki. He said that she was “kidnapped by the opposition” after a brief fight with local police, who gave chase into the mountains.
An official with the Kunar criminal investigation unit said local insurgents were responsible, led by a man called Mullah Basir and an associate called Qari Ruhullah. At midday, a group of 12 senior elders from the area were sent into the area where the hostages were believed to be to try to secure their release.
The incident follows the murder of a British surgeon and her colleagues by the Taliban last month. Karen Woo,36, from London died just two weeks before her wedding when she was among 10 medical workers ambushed by gunmen. The Taliban claimed responsibility.
There was also an attack in July on DAI offices in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, in which a British private security guard was killed. Shaun Sexton, a 29-year-old former member of the Parachute Regiment, worked for DAI’s security sub-contractor, Edinburgh International. Three other security guards employed by the firm, two Afghans and a German, were also killed.
Private contractors carrying out work for the US government have increasingly become the targets for insurgents. In April, a guest house in Kandahar city, where several such organisations worked, including the company Chemonics, was almost completely destroyed by a massive car bomb.
NGOs have been striving to remain neutral and refusing to take on projects linked with the foreign military effort.
In June this year, DAI sacked 10 local Afghan workers after an investigation for allegedly seeking kickbacks.
Story here.
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Search for kidnapped UK aid worker
09/27/2010
An urgent search is under way to find a female British aid worker kidnapped in Afghanistan.
The unnamed woman, who is reported to be Scottish and in her 30s, was abducted on Sunday in Kunar province, north-east Afghanistan, alongside three Afghan nationals with whom she is thought to have been working.
The international development professional for Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) was travelling in a convoy of two vehicles when insurgents attacked their party.
Kunar police chief Khalilullah Zaiyi said officers chased after the kidnappers and were engaged in a brief firefight before the men escaped.
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm a British national has been abducted in Afghanistan. We are working closely with all the relevant local authorities. We are also in touch with the family and are providing consular assistance.”
American aid contractor DAI also has a London office.
Local tribal elders are believed to be assisting in the search for the missing people.
An attack was launched on DAI offices in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, in July, in which a British private security guard was killed.
Shaun Sexton, a 29-year-old former member of the Parachute Regiment, worked for DAI’s security sub-contractor, Edinburgh International. Three other security guards employed by the firm, two Afghans and one German, were also killed.
Last month, British aid worker Dr Karen Woo was shot dead with nine colleagues in Afghanistan. They were returning from delivering medical supplies to poor Afghans in remote mountain communities, in an expedition organised by Kabul-based Christian charity the International Assistance Mission.
Story here.