German embassy in Afghanistan closed in anticipation of terrorist act

Germany’s embassy in Afghanistan was shut in response to a “serious” security threat, said the foreign ministry here on Thursday . “It is correct that the German embassy in Kabul is currently closed,” a foreign ministry spokesman was quoted by the DIE Welt newspaper as saying. However, the spokesman would not be drawn on the newspaper report that the embassy had been closed for “several days” after warnings of an “Islamist terrorist attack” from the German secret service (BND). “According to our information, the BND recently warned the foreign ministry of a risk of a terrorist attack by Islamists in Kabul,” wrote the Welt. The indications of a looming attack were “concrete” and “serious,” added the paper. With some 4,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, Germany is the third-largest contributor to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force, but its troops are withdrawing over the next year. Martin J'ger, Germany’s new ambassador to Afghanistan arrived in the country in September.