At least 20 killed in armed attack on miners in southwestern Pakistan

The attackers fired rockets and grenades at the mines as well, police said.

Image showing silhouettes of armed men. For representational purposes.

Credit: iStock Photo

Quetta: At least 20 miners were killed and seven injured in an attack by armed men on a small private coal mine in the southwestern Pakistani province of Balochistan on Friday, police said.

“A group of armed men attacked the Junaid Coal company mines in the Duki area in the wee hours using heavy weapons,” said Humayun Khan, the police station house officer for the town, located east of the city of Quetta. They fired rockets and grenades at the mines as well, he added.

“We have received 20 bodies and six injured so far at the district hospital,” said Johar Khan Shadizai, a doctor in Duki.