Police report that private security guards stationed at the scene resisted, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire.
A mining shovel loads a mining truck at the Los Bronces copper mine PHOTO: Reuters
QUETA:
Unidentified gunmen launched a deadly attack on a copper and gold mining project in Chagai district of Balochistan on Wednesday afternoon, leaving ten people dead, including a Turkish national.
According to company officials, the attack targeted the National Resources Limited (NRL) mining site located in the Darigun area, approximately 120 kilometers from Dalbandin.
In a formal statement, the company confirmed that the attack occurred around 5:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Security forces, including the Frontier Corps (FC), immediately responded and cordoned off the area. Police officers reported that private security guards stationed at the scene resisted, leading to an intense exchange of gunfire.
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Authorities said the attackers set fire to drilling machinery, generators and other essential equipment. The gunfire and rocket attacks caused a massive explosion in a fuel tank, resulting in several employees being burned to death. In addition, they indicated that the attackers fled the scene, taking several vehicles with them.
The deceased and the injured were taken to Prince Fahd Hospital in Dalbandin. Hospital sources confirmed that the victims were from various regions including Bela, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) as well as the local area. One of the deceased has been identified as Omer, a Turkish national.
Following the incident, security forces began a search and clearing operation in the rugged terrain. The company stated that it remains in close coordination with law enforcement authorities to ensure the safety of personnel and remaining facilities.
