A gang armed with knives and machetes attacked a group of hikers from Australia out on a rugged trail in Papua New Guinea.  Two porters were killed and several hikers were injured, though none of the injuries are believed to be life-threatening.

This happened on the Black Cat Track in Morobe Province. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is advising people not to hike this area until the police investigate the crime.

The hiking party is believed to have consisted of eight Australians, one New Zealander and around six Papua New Guineans.  Their injuries are not detailed, but believed to involve slashes and cuts, bumps and bruises.  But the porters’ deaths were gruesome; the men, PNG nations, were hacked to death. 

Workers from a local mining company helped the injured trekkers walk to their camp nearby which also has a medical clinic.  PNG's promotional tourism authority says the injured trekkers were flown to Lae this morning and may be flown to Port Moresby later today.