After months
of relative calm in Baghdad, the past week has seen security deteriorate in and
around the capital - with Islamic State fighters claiming responsibility for a
number of attacks in the region which left more than 50 people dead.
One of the
deadliest incidents last Monday saw gunmen detonate suicide vests inside one of
the city's shopping malls, killing 18 people and injuring 40.
The US State Department is
looking into local media reports that three Americans have been kidnapped by
"militias" in Baghdad.
An official said: "We
are aware of reports that American citizens are missing in Iraq. We are working
with the full cooperation of the Iraqi authorities to locate and recover the
individuals."
Scott Bolz, a spokesman for
the US Embassy in the Iraqi capital, has confirmed "several"
Americans are missing.
Their disappearance was
first reported by Al Arabiya, a pan-Arab news channel.
Reports say they were
snatched in the Al Doura neighbourhood of south Baghdad along with their
translator.
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