The body was taken to a hospital in the capital’s Karrada district and an initial hospital report indicated that the death was caused by a bullet, the sources added.

A police source said the victim was carrying an identity card showing his job as an English teacher.

Another police source said armed men in a vehicle opened fire at an SUV carrying the victim and shot him dead.

“Our initial investigation and eyewitnesses showed that armed men were trying to kidnap the American citizen,” an Iraqi police major said.

The US State Department was aware of reports of an American killed in Iraq and was looking into them, department spokesman Ned Price said.

“We would of course notify the next of kin before making any public comments,” Price said at a regular press briefing.