Shootings at BaseCamp of Worlds' 9th Highest Mountain

kerry4sam

Dear God! Shocking reading.

The Mountaineers were even robbed before being shot, it's being alleged.

Nine tourists from China, the Ukraine and Lithuania died in the attack, along with one guide who's nationality has been variously described as Pakistani or Nepali. One Chinese survivor has been recovered.

The attack is thought to have been carried out by Sunni militants, though reports vary as to the name of the group responsible. The Pakistani Taliban have contacted the BBC to claim responsibility. It's also been claimed that the victims were robbed before being shot.

'There were nine foreigners and one Pakistani. The incident took place around 10:00 pm (1700 GMT Saturday). They were mountaineers' Diamer police official Mohammed Naveed told AFP.

'Gunmen came and opened fire on them. It is confirmed that they have been killed'.

...

'They abducted two guides and through them reached the area. One guide was killed in the shoot-out. One is alive. He is now detained and being questioned' he said.

On Radio Pakistan Gilgit governor Syed Mehdi Shah said:

'A lot of tourists come to this area in the summer, and our local people work to earn money from these people. This will not only affect our area, but will adversely affect all of Pakistan.'

Taken from here.

Carawaystick

Yeah, shocking stuff. Read there were a dozen or so climbers up on the mountain who came back down to that sight.

Although you have americans and germans blowing people to kingdom come in Afghanistan and Pakistan all the time, but they're not climbers, they just live there.