Protest over jobs in Lajan village turns violent amid reports of armed clashes

ERBIL — Protests over refinery jobs in Erbil governorate’s Gwer subdistrict escalated on Saturday, with gunfire heard and a local rights group reporting one person killed and several others injured in Lajan village.

Residents from several villages around Gwer have been demonstrating for days, demanding that local youth be hired at a local refinery. Villagers say they have repeatedly been promised employment and in recent days blocked the road leading to the facilities, causing heavy congestion.

Saturday’s protest intensified near the refinery, with videos circulating on social media capturing the sound of sustained gunfire as crowds gathered. Witnesses told 964media that ambulances rushed to the area and that security forces deployed heavily around the site. A source familiar with the situation said there were “reports of deaths and injuries,” but added that the information had not yet been confirmed.

Videos posted online appear to show armed residents confronting security forces. 964media has been unable to independently verify the footage.

Security forces have been blocking media access to the area, and a 964media reporter who attempted to reach Lajan on Saturday was unable to enter the village to cover the developments.

Sulaymaniyah-based Channel 8 said its crew was attacked while broadcasting from the scene. The outlet released video showing a man attempting to damage the channel’s camera and livestream equipment. In a statement, the station said its team “were attacked by a security force, and their live broadcast transmission equipment and media equipment were broken.”

Network 19, a local human rights watchdog, said it “condemns all forms of violence,” reporting that “clashes broke out and as a result one person was killed and several others were injured.”