50 Islamist terrorists storm Pakistan energy plant, killing 6

The attack by up to 50 terrorists took place at a plant run by the MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company in Hangu district near the Afghan border.

 A police officer holds a machine-gun with thermal binoculars attached to it, on the rooftop of Sangu's outpost, in the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, meant to defend against Islamist terrorists, February 9, 2023. (photo credit: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters)
A police officer holds a machine-gun with thermal binoculars attached to it, on the rooftop of Sangu's outpost, in the outskirts of Peshawar, Pakistan, meant to defend against Islamist terrorists, February 9, 2023.
(photo credit: Fayaz Aziz/Reuters)

Islamist terrorists stormed a natural gas and oil extraction plant in northwest Pakistan on Tuesday, killing four police and two private guards, police said.

The attack by up to 50 terrorists took place at a plant run by the MOL Pakistan Oil and Gas Company in Hangu district near the Afghan border, police official Irfan Khan said.

No group has claimed responsibility.

The company did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

How did the Islamist terrorists attack the gas and oil plant in Pakistan?

The police said the terrorists targeted two wells - M-8 and M-10 - with heavy weapons including rocket-propelled grenades.

 General view of Pakistan and Taliban flags at the Friendship Gate crossing point in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman, Pakistan August 27, 2021. (credit: REUTERS/SAEED ALI ACHAKZAI)
General view of Pakistan and Taliban flags at the Friendship Gate crossing point in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border town of Chaman, Pakistan August 27, 2021. (credit: REUTERS/SAEED ALI ACHAKZAI)

“The security guards at M-8 repulsed the terrorists’ attack but the casualties took place at M-10," said Khan.

“The security guards at M-8 repulsed the terrorists’ attack but the casualties took place at M-10."

Irfan Khan

He added that the terrorists also damaged a solar power plant at the gas power plant before fleeing to adjoining North Waziristan, where they had come from.

Various terrorist factions, including the Pakistani Taliban, have operated for years out of remote mountains in the northwest, launching attacks on security forces and infrastructure in their campaign against the state.