At least 18 Turkish construction workers kidnapped by gunmen in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- At least 18 Turkish construction workers and engineers who were building a sports stadium were kidnapped by unidentified gunmen on Wednesday in Baghdad.

The workers, employed by the Turkish company Nurol Holding, were sleeping in caravans at the construction site in the capital's north-eastern Sadr City district when armed men in military uniforms arrived at about 6 a.m. in black SUVs and took them away. No significant violence was reported.

Nurol Holding said no previous threat was received. Iraqi officials do not know who is responsible.

Turkey's foreign ministry confirmed the kidnapping and said it was in constant contact with Iraqi officials in attempts to rescue the workers.

In 2014, 46 Turkish citizens were captured in the city of Mosul, Iraq, by the Islamic State for about three months, but were released unharmed.

On August 13, the Islamic State carried out a truck bombing that killed at least 70 people in Sadr City, a predominantly Shiite Muslim district of Baghdad.

The Islamic State took responsibility for the August incident via social media, stating it launched the attack targeting Shiite militia members. The Islamic State, also known as ISIS, ISIL and Daesh, is a Sunni militant Islam group that considers Shiites to be heretics.