Hundreds of workers at a cement factory in war-torn Syria were reportedly abducted by Islamic State militants Thursday.
Aamaq, a group linked to IS, posted a video showing the deserted Al-Badia Cement Company factory in Dumeir, nearly 30 miles northeast of the capital city of Damascus.
The Associated Press, citing Syrian TV reports, tabbed the number of captured workers at 300.
Some were able to get away, but there were conflicting reports about the fate of at least 170 that remained under IS control. Al-Badia told state media that it could not establish contact with the missing workers.
Opposition fighters dealt a series of defeats to the extremist group in recent weeks, but fighting remained intense in the northern part of Syria. A rebel group said that the factory was one of five targets in Dumeir.