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'Thirty-five hostages killed in Algerian helicopter attack on BP gas plant siege': Two Brits feared
Daily Mail (UK) ^
| Thursday, Jan 17 2013 3PM
| Simon Tomlinson and Nabila Ramdani And Peter Allen
Posted on 01/17/2013 9:18:16 AM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach
'Thirty-five hostages killed in Algerian helicopter attack on BP gas plant siege': Two Brits feared dead, but some captives including Americans and Irish have escaped
- Helicopters 'began strafing' complex, also killing 15 militants, claim rebels
- Militants had earlier threatened to blow up the hostages if they intervened
- Al-Qaeda group also demand safe passage out of facility with the hostages
- Two British nationals and Algerian are believed to have been killed in siege
- Britain will allow Algeria to 'take the lead', but will consider request for help
- PM Cameron: 'Extent of attack suggests considerable degree of planning'
- Attack was planned by 'one-eyed Islamist known as The Uncatchable'
An oil worker from Belfast has escaped the bloodbath at BP's Algerian gas plant where up to 35 foreign hostages were killed in a helicopter strike by government force, it emerged today.
Fifteen al-Qaeda insurgents are also thought to have died at the remote Saharan site after Algerian forces strafed the plant this morning, hours after the rebels had threatened to blow up the hostages if they intervened.
Islamic militants, acting in revenge for France's assault on al-Qaeda rebels in neighbouring Mali, said 35 captives including Britons and Americans were killed in the attack.
But amid conflicting reports, a source in the town said just six foreign hostages and eight of their captors were killed, while 25 captives including Americans and Europeans managed to escape.
One of those was a 36-year-old married man from Belfast who made contact with his family at around 3pm after being freed.
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(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: africa; ainamenas; algeria; algeriahostagecrisis; alqaeda; amenas; aqim; bp; jihadwar; mali; maliwar; oneeyed; sahara; sahel; statoil; theuncatchable; uncatchable
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To: kristinn; TigersEye; Marine_Uncle; justa-hairyape; onyx; Fred Nerks; SunkenCiv; blam; GeronL; ...
2
posted on
01/17/2013 9:22:02 AM PST
by
Ernest_at_the_Beach
((The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?))
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
sigh..
AQ is on the wain..
or so we been told..
Tell that to the latest victims..
of adherents to tRoP.
3
posted on
01/17/2013 9:24:13 AM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Algeria (and the rest of Africa) - where life is cheap.
4
posted on
01/17/2013 9:24:19 AM PST
by
Blood of Tyrants
(The only thing that Hollywood gets right about guns is that criminals will always get them.)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
What a mess - having the Algerian terrorist groups stage a resurgence after all these years. And furthermore, they sound more united and better armed this time around as AQIM, and they also appear to think that they now have a handy refuge in Libya.
I read that the Spanish and the British are pulling their citizens from the gas fields. Spain gets about half of its natural gas from Algeria.
5
posted on
01/17/2013 9:25:05 AM PST
by
livius
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Unlike the theories of many on these boards, the President has not offered to exchange Abdel-Rahman to Egypt in exchange for hostages in Algeria - or even said much of anything at all.
6
posted on
01/17/2013 9:25:35 AM PST
by
wideawake
To: NormsRevenge
AQ is on the wainThis group has 40 guys, allegedly gathered from at least three countries, and they are surrounded by soldiers of one Muslim nation while they are on the run from the soldiers of another Muslim nation.
They don't seem to be a very impressive or large or well-equipped or well-led crew.
And there do not seem to be crowds in Bamako or Algiers protesting on their behalf.
7
posted on
01/17/2013 9:29:50 AM PST
by
wideawake
To: NormsRevenge
AQ is on the wain..A wain is a type of horse-drawn, load-carrying vehicle, used for agricultural purposes rather than transporting people, for example a haywain.
8
posted on
01/17/2013 9:32:51 AM PST
by
kabar
To: kabar
uhhh haywain? we used to have a haywagon ,, but my memory has waned since we rode it .. Thanks for the redirect!
9
posted on
01/17/2013 9:40:26 AM PST
by
NormsRevenge
(Semper Fi)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Instead of E.O.’s against Americans, Obama should be handling something he is supposed to handle.
Comment #11 Removed by Moderator
To: wideawake; Ernest_at_the_Beach
a 'Lone Wolf' if you will with entourage..
BBCNews.com
Algeria siege: 'Victims' as army tries to free hostages
Algerian forces have moved against Islamic militants holding hostages at a gas facility in eastern Algeria, the state news agency reports.
Four foreign hostages were freed but the operation resulted in a number of "victims", APS agency said.
Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In Amenas that kidnappers occupied on Wednesday, after killing a Briton and an Algerian.
Reports quoting militants said at least 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers died.
To: All
**************************************EXCERPT*****************************************
CONFUSION REIGNS OVER HOSTAGE NUMBERS AND NATIONALITIES
Islamic militants say they have captured 41 foreign hostages at the natural gas complex in the Algerian desert, but there are conflicting reports about their numbers and nationalities.
Here's a summary of the latest information on the hostages:
ALGERIA: Hundreds of Algerians worked at the gas plant, but the Algerian media says most have been released. The Norwegian energy company Statoil says three of its Algerian employees are being held.
NORWAY: Nine Norwegians employees of Statoil are hostages, the company says.
UNITED STATES: Seven Americans have been captured, according to the militants. The U.S. says its citizens are involved but has given no numbers.
BRITAIN: 'Several' British nationals are among the hostages, the U.K. government says.
JAPAN: At least three of the hostages are Japanese, according to the Japanese media.
MALAYSIA: Two Malaysians being held, the government says.
IRELAND: A 36-year-old Irish man is among the hostages, according to Ireland's government.
13
posted on
01/17/2013 9:47:26 AM PST
by
Ernest_at_the_Beach
((The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?))
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
I consider this to be a better outcome than paying ransom and just getting more kidnappings.
If the wages of kidnapping are certain death, there will be no further kidnappings.
14
posted on
01/17/2013 9:49:43 AM PST
by
E. Pluribus Unum
(TYRANNY: When the people fear the politicians. LIBERTY: When the politicians fear the people.)
To: NormsRevenge
Some Ugly photos at the Daily Mail site....with modified headline now.
15
posted on
01/17/2013 9:52:01 AM PST
by
Ernest_at_the_Beach
((The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?))
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Where’s the president while this is happening?
(rhetorical question)
16
posted on
01/17/2013 9:53:06 AM PST
by
SE Mom
(Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
All while Obama “Par-teeeeeeeeeeeeeees”!
17
posted on
01/17/2013 10:01:09 AM PST
by
IslamE
(epiphany)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
This has been leading the news cycle in Norway since it happened. Latest news is that the military action may not be over, and that there are terrorists and hostages still on site.
The Norwegian Prime Minister will hold a press conference on the hour. I can update you with any important information.
18
posted on
01/17/2013 10:02:08 AM PST
by
Eurotwit
("Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.")
To: kabar
While Americans are being killed, i am glad you have the time to enlighten us with your mastery of the English language!/sarc
19
posted on
01/17/2013 10:07:00 AM PST
by
IslamE
(epiphany)
To: E. Pluribus Unum
...some of the western hostages are said to be primed to explode if the authorities intervene. The kidnappers have apparently put explosive belts on them and will blow them up if there is any attempt to storm the place. I'd say these poor people don't have much chance no matter what happens.
20
posted on
01/17/2013 10:07:52 AM PST
by
livius
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