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Kidnapped German 'freed in Kabul' Kidnapped German freed in Kabul
(40 minutes later)
A German woman who was kidnapped at gunpoint from a restaurant in the Afghan capital Kabul has been released after a day in captivity, reports say. A German woman who was kidnapped at gunpoint from a restaurant in the Afghan capital Kabul has been released.
Her release during a police operation came hours after TV stations in Afghanistan broadcast a video appearing to show her. Reports say Christina Meier was freed during a police raid on a house on the outskirts of the city, and a number of her suspected abductors were arrested.
The woman in the video, whose head was covered with a white scarf, identified herself as Christina Meier. Earlier, the aid worker was seen in a video released by her captors and broadcast on Afghan TV.
Speaking in the local language Dari, she said: "I am OK". A German foreign ministry spokeswoman said the aid worker was now at the German diplomatic mission in Kabul.
A turbaned man in dark glasses then appeared, and said Mrs Meier would not be harmed, before calling for the release of "innocent prisoners". The BBC's Charles Haviland, in Kabul, says the house that was raided on Sunday night had apparently been under observation since Saturday, the day Mrs Meier was abducted.
The names of these prisoners would be sent to television stations later, he said. Bombings
"We are not the Taleban, we are not bad people," he added.
It is unclear who the armed men who abducted the woman areMrs Maier's ID card was also shown in the video.
The BBC's Charles Haviland, in Kabul, says that a criminal gang is suspected of carrying out the kidnapping.
Mrs Meier was the first foreigner to be abducted in the city for more than two years.Mrs Meier was the first foreigner to be abducted in the city for more than two years.
The aid worker, in her 30s, works for a Christian organisation called Ora International. She works for a Christian organisation called Ora International.
Police fired at the kidnappers' car as it sped away but missed it, hitting a taxi instead and killing its driver.
Our correspondent says that although there have recently been several bomb attacks in Kabul, kidnappings are rare in the capital.Our correspondent says that although there have recently been several bomb attacks in Kabul, kidnappings are rare in the capital.
The last time a foreigner was abducted in the city was in 2005.The last time a foreigner was abducted in the city was in 2005.
The victim, an Italian woman, was released after a few weeks by the kidnappers, said to have been a criminal gang.The victim, an Italian woman, was released after a few weeks by the kidnappers, said to have been a criminal gang.