A local police chief says Islamic State (IS) militants have burned 45 people to death in the western Iraqi town of Al-Baghdadi.
The motive was unknown but Colonel Qasim al-Obeidi said on February 17 he believed some of the victims were members of the security forces.
He said a compound that houses the families of security personnel and local officials was now under attack, and pleaded for help from the government and international community.
The report could not be immediately confirmed due to the fighting and the poor communications in the area.
IS fighters captured much of the town of Al-Baghdadi, near Ain al-Asad air base, last week.
Militants subsequently attacked the base on February 13, but the attack was repelled. U.S. and Iraqi officials said eight militants were killed in that attack.
Some 300 U.S. military personnel have been training Iraqi troops at the base.
Earlier this month, IS posted a video showing militants burning alive a Jordanian air force pilot, whose plane crashed in Syria in December.
Based on reporting by BBC and dailymail.co.uk
