10 killed in armed attack at Chagai mining project in Balochistan

Police report private security guards stationed at the site put up resistance, leading to a heavy exchange of fire

QUETTA:

Unidentified armed men launched a deadly assault on a copper and gold mining project in the Chagai district of Balochistan on Wednesday evening, 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 kilometres from Dalbandin.

In a formal statement, the company confirmed that the attack occured at around 5:45pm on Wednesday. Security forces, including the Frontier Corps (FC), responded immediately and cordoned off the vicinity. Police officials reported that private security guards stationed at the site put up resistance, leading to a heavy exchange of fire.

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Authorities stated that the assailants set fire to drilling machinery, 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 multiple vehicles with them.

The deceased and the injured were shifted to Prince Fahd Hospital in Dalbandin. Hospital sources confirmed that the victims hailed from various regions, including Bela, Sindh, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B), as well as the local area. One of the deceased has been identified as Omer, a Turkish national.

Following the incident, security forces initiated a search and clearance operation in the rugged terrain. The company stated it remains in close coordination with law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of its remaining personnel and installations.