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| Papua New Guinea attack kills two porters and injures trekkers | Papua New Guinea attack kills two porters and injures trekkers |
| (7 days later) | |
| One Australian trekker was speared in the leg and another had his arm slashed in an attack in Papua New Guinea in which two of their porters were hacked to death. | One Australian trekker was speared in the leg and another had his arm slashed in an attack in Papua New Guinea in which two of their porters were hacked to death. |
| The trekking group, including eight Australians and a New Zealander, were attacked by bandits on the Black Cat track in Morobe province in the country's remote and mountainous north on Tuesday. | The trekking group, including eight Australians and a New Zealander, were attacked by bandits on the Black Cat track in Morobe province in the country's remote and mountainous north on Tuesday. |
| Two of their porters were slaughtered with machetes and knives. The Australian Associated Press understands one of them was killed in his tent at the camp – indicating the attack was sudden. | Two of their porters were slaughtered with machetes and knives. The Australian Associated Press understands one of them was killed in his tent at the camp – indicating the attack was sudden. |
| PNG police spokesman Dominic Kakas said six men armed with guns, a spear and bush knives struck between 1pm and 2pm. One gun was homemade while the other was a .303 factory-made rifle. | PNG police spokesman Dominic Kakas said six men armed with guns, a spear and bush knives struck between 1pm and 2pm. One gun was homemade while the other was a .303 factory-made rifle. |
| Kakas said there were no reports anyone was shot. | Kakas said there were no reports anyone was shot. |
| "Three of the porters suffered lacerations to their arms and eyes, one was wounded on both legs," he said. One of the Australians had his left arm slashed, he said. | "Three of the porters suffered lacerations to their arms and eyes, one was wounded on both legs," he said. One of the Australians had his left arm slashed, he said. |
| "They all had their passports stolen. One man was speared in the left leg. Another has a head laceration, cuts on left elbow and bruises and cut on his back." | "They all had their passports stolen. One man was speared in the left leg. Another has a head laceration, cuts on left elbow and bruises and cut on his back." |
| Some walked for hours to seek help and all the injured were later treated at a clinic in Wau, where they spent the night. | Some walked for hours to seek help and all the injured were later treated at a clinic in Wau, where they spent the night. |
| Rescue operator Morobe Mining Joint Venture spokesman Stanley Komunt told AAP the 10 surviving porters have been flown to Lae hospital for treatment. | Rescue operator Morobe Mining Joint Venture spokesman Stanley Komunt told AAP the 10 surviving porters have been flown to Lae hospital for treatment. |
| "We were told one porter had been killed, then [we] found it was two," he said. | "We were told one porter had been killed, then [we] found it was two," he said. |
| "They are all at Lae receiving medical treatment." | "They are all at Lae receiving medical treatment." |
| Trek leader Christie King, the only woman in the group, led some of the Australians through the bush to find assistance after the attack. | Trek leader Christie King, the only woman in the group, led some of the Australians through the bush to find assistance after the attack. |
| Wau is a three- to four-hour walk from where they were camped, at the Donkey trail along the Black Cat track. | Wau is a three- to four-hour walk from where they were camped, at the Donkey trail along the Black Cat track. |
| "Some of them did leave to get help, they were led out by the team leader," Kakas said. | "Some of them did leave to get help, they were led out by the team leader," Kakas said. |
| He said PNG's police commissioner, Tom Kulunga, condemned the attack. | He said PNG's police commissioner, Tom Kulunga, condemned the attack. |
| "All police resources are being utilised," he said. Local villagers were tracking the attackers now, he said, and about 20 police officers and the airborne unit had been sent to the area. | "All police resources are being utilised," he said. Local villagers were tracking the attackers now, he said, and about 20 police officers and the airborne unit had been sent to the area. |
| The injured tourists were to drive to Buolo village and on to Port Moresby. The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has provided consular support and will meet with the group when they return to Port Moresby. | The injured tourists were to drive to Buolo village and on to Port Moresby. The Australian High Commission in Port Moresby has provided consular support and will meet with the group when they return to Port Moresby. |
| A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) spokeswoman said earlier, "Our sympathies are with the family and friends of those who were killed." | A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) spokeswoman said earlier, "Our sympathies are with the family and friends of those who were killed." |
| She said Dfat advises Australians in PNG to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high level of serious crime. | She said Dfat advises Australians in PNG to exercise a high degree of caution because of the high level of serious crime. |
| "We recommend that trekkers avoid the Black Cat track until the local police have investigated this incident," she said. | "We recommend that trekkers avoid the Black Cat track until the local police have investigated this incident," she said. |
| Dfat has not changed its travel advice for other PNG treks such as Kokoda. | Dfat has not changed its travel advice for other PNG treks such as Kokoda. |
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