According to NRT the militants set up a checkpoint on the road between Kirkuk and Rashad where the stopped a taxi carrying an Iraqi federal police officer.

The militants shot dead the taxi driver and the police officer. The vehicle was also set on fire.

Islamic State attacks and bombings against the Iraqi forces have recently increased in the province of Kirkuk.

IS militants attacked a checkpoint manned by the Third Regiment of the Federal Police in the village of Rebidha, south of the sub-district of Daquq, killing two federal police officers and wounding three others.

In December, Iraq declared victory against IS after a years-long battle to retake large swathes of territory that the extremists had seized in 2014.

Reporter’s code: 50101