Call the local police or security authority to report the attempted kidnapping immediately. After an attempted kidnapping or threat occurs, get together in a secure setting and go over what happened with your embassy and local police. Follow up on ongoing matters such as personal safety and security requirements for home and office. Post-attempted kidnap action requires pre-planning, established reporting procedures and communication with your corporate headquarters.
Try to remember the kidnappers’ descriptions, their weapons and event details for post incident procedures and organizational debriefings by the police and by your designated embassy personnel. Have the following ready for timely and accurate reporting:
1. Passport number, place of issue, expiration date and date visa expires.
2. In-country residence address and telephone number.
3. In-country place of business and telephone number.
4. Date and time of the incident.
5. Exact location of the incident: neighborhood, street number and description.
6. Narrative of the incident. Keep the narrative simple: who, what, where, when and how in chronological order. Don’t overdo it or guess.
Complete description of the kidnappers:
A. Sex, race, height, weight, build and hair color
B. Scars, birthmarks, tattoos and other marks
C. Clothing and jewelry description
D. Behavior and attitude
E. Weapons used: knife, handgun, rifle, shotgun, automatic weapon, etc.
F. Report any injuries sustained, regardless of how minor.
G. Provide the name of the medical center you used for treatment.
H. In some cases local police may request you to take a polygraph test.
Security Arrangements
Suspend normal activities and adopt an alert, defensive posture. You should increase or enhance your security at times of increased kidnap threats. State any security fears or concerns you may have and request initial police protection be provided for adequate security. Phone your corporate headquarters to report the incident. Communication is vital; let your head office know where you are and how to get information to you (landline, cellular phone, Blackberry, satellite phone or e-mail). Provide the corporate office with a flow of information about the situation, and always update the details if your situation changes. Communicate to the corporate office that the kidnap risk is determined to be excessive based on active pre-kidnap surveillance or if a kidnap attempt has actually occurred.
Request executive protection service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This should include the use of executive protection specialists augmented by local guards. Ask for a two-car security escort to and from work daily, and as a precaution, change your current hotel provider and location. If staying at a private in-country residence, request an increase in the number of security personnel to ensure your safety. Actively pursue additional hardening options to further reduce kidnap threat exposure. "After crossing a river, you should get far away from it."– Sun Tzu. Keep safe out there, stay sharp and God speed.
