A group of Turkish workers has been abducted by masked men in military uniforms from a construction site in Baghdad. The employees included engineers, administrative staff and laborers.

The 18 workers are employed by a Turkish construction company contracted to build a sports complex in the eastern Sadr City area. The district is a stronghold of pro-government Shiite militias battling the "Islamic State" (IS) jihadist group.

The kidnapping took place at dawn on Wednesday, as workers were sleeping in caravans at the site. The employees were taken away in several SUVs, Iraqi security officials said.

The identity or motives of the kidnappers was not immediately known.

The abduction happened just a few weeks after Turkey began launching airstrikes against IS militants in northern Iraq.

The Turkish government has also permitted US warplanes to use bases in southeastern Turkey to strike against the extremist group.

Last month, Islamic State released a statement accusing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of "selling the country to crusaders."

Turkey's foreign ministry said it was in constant contact with Iraq authorities over the incident.

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DW