U.S. Citizen Escapes Attempted Kidnapping

An American escaped kidnappers in the Afghan capital, throwing himself from a moving car after his armed attackers had forced him into the trunk, officials and witnesses said.

The identity of the attackers and their motive were unclear. The man was walking on a hill overlooking Kabul’s upscale Wazir Akbar Khan neighborhood, home to many embassies, construction companies and government officials, when he was approached by three armed men, said district police chief Abdul Khalik.

He said the three forced the victim into the trunk of a white Toyota and drove off.

Jeff Raleigh, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy, confirmed that the victim was a U.S. citizen. Raleigh said he was not a U.S. employee and provided no further details.