The Islamic State (IS) group has kidnapped at least 40 Iraqi people from their homes in the central city of Tikrit in the province of Salahuddin in Iraq.
The radical group Saturday took the hostages to an unknown location after they refused to take an oath of allegiance to the IS, Press TV reported citing a source.
Last week, the IS militants kidnapped 25 people from the north of the city for the same reason.
The IS militants entered Iraq in June. They have been carrying out horrific acts of violence, including public decapitations, against Iraqi communities like Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and Christians.
The IS terrorists currently also control parts of Syria.