Gunmen Abduct US Man in Brazen Raid in Pakistan

[Valin]

ABC/AP:

K.M. CHAUDHRY and NAHAL TOOSI Associated Press
LAHORE, Pakistan August 13, 2011 (AP)


Pakistani police officers gather at the entry gate of the house of an abducted American citizen in Lahore, Pakistan on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011. (K.M. Chaudary/AP Photo)

Gunmen kidnapped an American development expert after tricking his guards and breaking into his house in Pakistan on Saturday, a brazen raid that alarmed aid workers, diplomats and other foreigners who already tread carefully in this country rife with Islamic militancy and anti-U.S. sentiment.

The U.S. Embassy identified the victim as Warren Weinstein. Weinstein is the Pakistan country director for J.E. Austin Associates, a development contractor that has received millions of dollars from the aid arm of the U.S. government, according to a profile on LinkedIn, a networking website.

Police declined to speculate on the motive, and no group immediately claimed responsibility. But kidnappings for ransom are common in Pakistan, with foreigners being occasional targets. Criminal gangs are suspected in most abductions, but Islamic militants, are believed to also use the tactic to raise money.

(Snip)

Given his name I hope it is "common criminal gang". Salafist/Islamists do not look kindly on people named Weinstein.