Petra Diamonds pays £4.3m to Tanzanians ‘abused’ by its contractors

Firm settles over allegations claimants were shot, stabbed and beaten by guards at mine that produced one of Queen's favourite gems

The British mining company Petra Diamonds has agreed to pay 4.3m in compensation to dozens of Tanzanians who allegedly suffered serious human rights abuses at a mine famed for producing a flawless pink diamond for one of the Queen's favourite brooches.

The 71 Tanzanian claimants, represented in the London high court by the British law firm Leigh Day, alleged grave violations by the company, among them being shot, beaten, stabbed, assaulted, detained in cramped and filthy holding cells, and handcuffed to hospital beds.