4 Turkmen abducted in eastern Iraq

By Hussein al-Amir

DIYALA, Iraq

Four Iraqi Turkmen have been abducted in Iraq’s eastern Diyala province, according to a local police officer on Saturday.

Gunmen stormed Ashtukani village, north of Baquba, late Friday and kidnapped a local Turkmen councilor, his two sons and a nephew at gunpoint, Capt. Habib al-Shemari told Anadolu Agency.

One of the abductees was injured after he resisted his abduction, al-Shemari said, citing eyewitnesses.

There was no claim of responsibility for the abductions.

In recent months, Iraqi forces have managed to recapture vast swathes of territory overran by Daesh terrorist group in 2014.