Banjir Ambarita – Two people were injured on Tuesday in the latest ambush on a vehicle on the road leading to Freeport Indonesia's mining concession in Papua.

The incident occurred at 12:37 p.m. local time when a bus carrying military and police personnel was fired on by unknown gunmen at the Mile 51 point of the road leading to the Grasberg mine.

The bus driver, Abubakar Sidik, was hit in the face and shoulder by a ricochet, while one of the soldiers, First Pvt. Tekad, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm. They were immediately taken to a clinic at Kuala Kencana, Freeport's base.

Sr. Comr. Wachyono, the Papua Police spokesman, confirmed the shooting but said he had no further information.

The incident is the latest in a series of ambushes on vehicles traversing the road. Last Wednesday, a truck driver was injured when gunmen opened fire on his truck and a Freeport patrol vehicle at the Mile 51 point.

A week earlier, gunmen opened fire on another Freeport patrol vehicle at Mile 45, injuring a police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer. The attacks on Freeport and security forces have intensified as a strike started by mine workers on Sept. 15 drags on.

Wachyono said police were investigating an incident on Monday in which an officer from Tiom subprecinct police in Lanny Jaya district had his assault rifle stolen.

The officer left his AK-47 with two full magazines with a civilian friend while he went to eat. But three men held up the friend and took the weapon and magazines before fleeing.