" Mining company accused over deadly police crackdown in Sierra Leone ", 26 Oct 2017

 ...The multimillion pound case against Tonkolili Iron Ore Ltd, formerly a subsidiary of African Minerals Ltd [AML], has been brought by London law firm Leigh Day on behalf of 41 people from Bumbuna, in the north of Sierra Leone...

AML is also accused of complicity in false imprisonment, assault and battery, trespass and theft of the claimants’ property. The allegations relate to two incidents: the police response to protests by local people against an alleged landgrab by the firm in 2010, and the police response to a workers’ strike in 2012...According to witness statements, the police acted under instructions from the company during the strike.

The mining company declined to comment on the allegations. In January 2017, 101 claims relating to the case were settled. On Thursday, Leigh Day will ask for anonymity for a number of individuals giving evidence. The hearing will also consider whether the court should travel to Sierra Leone to hear evidence, or whether witnesses should speak through video link...

[Also refers to Shell]