The U.S. State Department was working Sunday to locate three Americans in Iraq after a report that they had been kidnapped in Baghdad.
Dubai-based news service Al Arabiya reported that three Americans had been kidnapped by “militias” in the Iraqi capital. The Arab news agency cited their own sources.
U.S, officials said they were looking into it.
“We are aware of reports that American citizens are missing in Iraq,” said State Department spokesman John Kirby. “We are working with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the individuals. The safety and security of American citizens overseas is our highest priority.”
Officials in Baghdad said they couldn’t offer any details on the three kidnapped Americans, but were working with the U.S. Embassy to get more information. Last Monday, at least 18 people were killed and 40 others were injured wheninsurgents attacked a shopping mall in Baghdad. ISIS appeared to claim responsibility for the attack, according to a statement the terrorist group published online, according to Laith Alkhouri of Flashpoint Intelligence, a global security firm and NBC News consultant. Recommended
This article first appeared on NBCNews.com.
Elisha Fieldstadt
Abigail Williams