Police report that private security guards posted at the site resisted, leading to a heavy exchange of fire
A mining bucket loads a mining truck at the Los Bronces copper mine PHOTO: Reuter
QUETTA:
Unidentified gunmen launched a deadly attack on a copper and gold mining project in Chagai district of Balochistan on Wednesday night, killing ten people, including a Turkish national.
According to company officials, the attack targeted the National Resources Limited (NRL) mining site in the Darigun area, approximately 120 kilometers from Dalbandin.
In a formal statement, the company confirmed that the attack took place at around 5.45pm on Wednesday. Security forces, including the Frontier Corps (FC), immediately responded and cordoned off the area. Police officials reported that private security guards posted at the site resisted, leading to a heavy exchange of fire.
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The authorities stated that the assailants set fire to drilling machines, generators and other essential equipment. The gunfire and rocket attacks triggered a massive explosion in a fuel tank, resulting in several employees being burned to death. They further noted that the attackers fled the scene, taking several vehicles with them.
The deceased and the injured were moved to Prince Fahd Hospital in Dalbandin. Hospital sources confirmed that the victims came from various regions including Bela, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), as well as the local area. One of the dead has been identified as Omer, a Turkish national.
Following the incident, security forces launched a search and clearance operation in the rugged terrain. The company stated that it remains in close coordination with law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of its remaining personnel and facilities.
