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A group of approximately 40 illegal miners stormed the gate of Gemfields’ Montepuez ruby mine on Wednesday, killing two police officers, according to the company.
The illegal miners attacked the Mozambican police who were guarding the site following severe disruptions at the processing plant earlier this month when 250 to 400 individuals sabotaged supply infrastructure and unlawfully extracted rubies from the deposit. One of the officers was a commander of Mozambique’s Natural Resources Protection Force, the company said Thursday.
The attack may have been related to district authorities investigating suspected illegal immigrants in a local village earlier in the day, during which a death was reported, Gemfields explained.
None of Gemfields’ employees or contractors at the Montepuez mine were injured during the scuffle, the company said. Since the attack, conditions at the site have been calm.
Gemfields is speaking with relevant Mozambican government officials in an effort to find a solution, it added.
Image: Rough rubies. (Gemfields)
