Seven workers killed in Iraq oil refinery

BAGHDAD - Seven employees of the Baiji oil refinery were shot dead and some 750 million dinars ($640,000) in salary payments were stolen from them, Iraqi media reported Tuesday.

According to al-Sumaria television, the seven were holding onto the large sum in order to pay employees at the refinery.

The gunmen managed to escape and were not captured following the incident Monday.

The Baiji refinery, located some 208 km north of Baghdad, produces around million of dollars worth of oil. The refinery has been suffering from power problems caused by grid overload and is not functioning at full capacity. Earlier this month it was forced to shut down completely but has since reopened.

It was the second major heist in Iraq this week that involved the gunmen knowing when to attack people carrying large amounts of cash to pay salaries.

Sunday, armed men made off with around $600,000 in a robbery of on a vehicle transporting cash in western Baghdad to pay staff at a veterinary college.