Afghan official: Gunmen abduct American, Australian in Kabul

A car passes American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. Five gunmen wearing Afghan military uniforms abducted an American and an Australian in Kabul, a security official said Monday. Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said that the two foreigners were taken from their SUV while driving on Sunday night on a main road near the university. They are believed to be employees of the university, he said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (The Associated Press)

An Afghan man pedals his bicycle past American University of Afghanistan in Kabul, Afghanistan, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016. Five gunmen wearing Afghan military uniforms abducted an American and an Australian in Kabul, a security official said Monday. Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, said that the two foreigners were taken from their SUV while driving on Sunday night on a main road near the university. They are believed to be employees of the university, he said. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) (The Associated Press)

KABUL, Afghanistan – An Afghan security official says five gunmen wearing military uniforms have abducted an American and an Australian in the Afghan capital, Kabul.

The official said on Monday that the two foreigners were abducted from their vehicle on a main road near the American University of Afghanistan. They are believed to be employees of the university. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to talk to reporters.

Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement that its embassy in Kabul was seeking to "verify reports of the kidnapping."

Three other foreigners who were kidnapped in Kabul in the past year have been released.

An Australian woman, Kerry Jane Wilson, was abducted in the eastern city of Jalalabad in April. Her whereabouts are unknown.