News / Local
3 Chinese nationals shot in copper plant robbery
10 Nov 2024 at 11:05hrs | Views
Three Chinese nationals were seriously injured in a dramatic movie-style robbery that took place early Sunday morning at the Lanyun Mining Zimbabwe copper processing plant on the outskirts of Chinhoyi.
The attack occurred around 1 am at the company's facility in Alaska, a location that also houses staff quarters. The victims, identified as Chen Fang Jun (49), Helong (25), and Wang Yin Bin (49), were shot by a gang of five or six armed robbers who stormed their rooms and opened fire.
According to the company's director, Huang, who spoke through an interpreter, the attackers were armed with pistols and shotguns. They barged into the rooms where the victims were staying, demanding money.
"The robbers confronted my colleagues, shouting, ‘where is the money?' before firing at them indiscriminately," Huang recounted. "They also fired several shots into the air, deflated tyres of three vehicles, and ransacked the premises."
Jun was shot once in the upper arm, while Helong and Bin were both shot in the legs. Bin suffered a particularly serious injury, with one of his legs fractured. The three men were rushed to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where they are receiving treatment for their injuries.
During the robbery, one of the victims handed over US$800 in cash that he had with him, while a bag containing an undisclosed sum of money was also stolen. In addition to the gunfire and theft, the robbers damaged two Toyota GD6 vehicles and a Vitz by deflating their tyres.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are currently investigating the incident, but Mashonaland West provincial spokesperson, Inspector Ian Kohwera, was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
This violent robbery marks a concerning escalation in criminal activity in the area, and local authorities are under pressure to find those responsible. The Lanyun Mining Zimbabwe plant, which processes copper, is one of several foreign-owned businesses operating in the region, and the attack has raised concerns about the safety of both foreign nationals and local employees working in remote areas.
The attack occurred around 1 am at the company's facility in Alaska, a location that also houses staff quarters. The victims, identified as Chen Fang Jun (49), Helong (25), and Wang Yin Bin (49), were shot by a gang of five or six armed robbers who stormed their rooms and opened fire.
According to the company's director, Huang, who spoke through an interpreter, the attackers were armed with pistols and shotguns. They barged into the rooms where the victims were staying, demanding money.
"The robbers confronted my colleagues, shouting, ‘where is the money?' before firing at them indiscriminately," Huang recounted. "They also fired several shots into the air, deflated tyres of three vehicles, and ransacked the premises."
Jun was shot once in the upper arm, while Helong and Bin were both shot in the legs. Bin suffered a particularly serious injury, with one of his legs fractured. The three men were rushed to Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital where they are receiving treatment for their injuries.
During the robbery, one of the victims handed over US$800 in cash that he had with him, while a bag containing an undisclosed sum of money was also stolen. In addition to the gunfire and theft, the robbers damaged two Toyota GD6 vehicles and a Vitz by deflating their tyres.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) are currently investigating the incident, but Mashonaland West provincial spokesperson, Inspector Ian Kohwera, was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
This violent robbery marks a concerning escalation in criminal activity in the area, and local authorities are under pressure to find those responsible. The Lanyun Mining Zimbabwe plant, which processes copper, is one of several foreign-owned businesses operating in the region, and the attack has raised concerns about the safety of both foreign nationals and local employees working in remote areas.
Source - NewZimbabwe
