US man kidnapped from his home in Pakistan

Police reports say Pakistani gunmen abducted a US citizen from his home in the city of Lahore early Saturday morning.

The U.S. Embassy identified the victim as Warren Weinstein. A man by that name serves as the Pakistan country director for J.E. Austin Associates, a development contractor that works with the aid arm of the American government, according to a profile on the LinkedIn networking website, the AP reported.

Pakistani police said the American was believed to be in his 60s, and had returned to Lahore the previous night from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. He had told his staff that would be wrapping up his latest project and moving out of Pakistan by Monday, police official Tajammal Hussain said.

The LinkedIn networking website lists a Warren Weinstein as the Pakistan country director for J.E. Austin Associates Inc. since 2004. It says he has worked on dairy production, horticulture and manufacturing projects, some funded by the U.S. government.

Between eight and 10 people broke into the American’s house this morning at a time when guards were busy preparing for an early meal during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, according to Abdul Razaq Cheema, a Lahore police official, who spoke to the GEO television channel, Bloomberg reported.

The agency quoted a neighbor saying the gunmen also beat the guard at the main gate.

All guards and servants have reportedly been taken into custody and are being questioned by police.

No group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping.