Humanitarian workers killed by gunmen in Afghanistan

At least ten people working for a humanitarian mine clearance organisation have been killed by gunmen in Afghanistan.

The HALO Trust, which has its headquarters in Dumfries, said that an unknown armed group entered a demining camp in the Baghlan Province before opening fire.

As many as 16 people were also injured as a result of the attack, which took place at around 9:50 pm local time on Tuesday.

The trust has worked to destroy explosive items in Afghanistan in 1988 and was supported by Princess Diana and now by the Duke of Sussex.

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— The HALO Trust (@TheHALOTrust) June 9, 2021

A statement by HALO read: “At 21:50 local time on June 8, ten HALO staff were killed and 16 injured by an unknown armed group at a demining camp in the Baghlan Province of Afghanistan.

“The group entered the camp and opened fire. Around 110 men, from local communities in northern Afghanistan, were in the camp having finished their work on nearby minefields.

“HALO is a humanitarian mine clearance organisation that has been destroying explosive items in Afghanistan since 1988.

“We strongly condemn the attack on our staff, who were carrying out humanitarian work to save lives.

“We are focussed now on care of the injured staff and supporting the families affected.”