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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: livius
Think of all of the upcoming Drone Strikes. More jobs for drone jockey's. We wouldn't miss this opportunity to reduce the number of Terrorists in Africa would we?
21
posted on
01/17/2013 10:14:22 AM PST
by
ANGGAPO
(Layte Gulf Beach Club)
To: SE Mom; IslamE; hummingbird; livius
Started this thread...just to see if we (USA ) was doing anything,....we sent a drone....:
BBC Live: Algeria hostage siege
And it says the White House is watching and Barack was informed....with updates...
22
posted on
01/17/2013 10:37:44 AM PST
by
Ernest_at_the_Beach
((The Global Warming Hoax was a Criminal Act....where is Al Gore?))
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Perhaps Obama and Clinton where advised that it would be un wise for them to stand up and wave their arms upward in praise of the al-Qaida goons perpetrating this crime.
After all. al Qaeda is now on the run, being decimated in large numbers. /sarc
23
posted on
01/17/2013 10:46:33 AM PST
by
Marine_Uncle
(I'm going John Galt.... But. Honor must be earned.)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Thanks Ernest- been following this as closely as I can- appreciate the ping.
Hard to know much yet- so many conflicting reports. According to The Guardian it’s ongoing:
7m ago
The Algerian military operation at the gas field near In Amenas is still going on, the communications minister said on national television.
“Unfortunately we deplore some deaths and some people wounded,” said Communications Minister Mohamed Said Belaid. “We don’t yet have the numbers.
“The operation is still going on” to free hostages, he said.
Belaid said the assault started when the army fired “warning shots” at militants trying to flee with hostages. The hostage-takers, he said, did not stop.
Belaid said the militants were international terrorists and the government would not negotiate with them.
24
posted on
01/17/2013 10:50:19 AM PST
by
SE Mom
(Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
The Benghazi rewrite squad is passing around the talking points memo on what the appropriate and proportionate response should be, and who it should include and not include, based on what known and unknown political risks and objectives such talking points may willingly and unwillingly disclose.
As it now stands from several rewrites, several local boyscouts in Mahli were offended by a refernce to several Teletubbies who maliciously mentioned the prophet and his close resemblance to "Tinky-Winkie". Official apologies are being produced to be aired on Al-Jazeera networks paid for by our state department and narrated by Hillary Clinton and Obama.
25
posted on
01/17/2013 10:56:01 AM PST
by
blackdog
(There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
To: SE Mom
David Cameron has just canceled his planned trip to Holland, and stated that people have to be prepared for bad news during this evening.
Presumably talking about the UK nationals..
26
posted on
01/17/2013 10:59:02 AM PST
by
Eurotwit
("Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.")
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Ahhh yes...the White House speaks:
2m ago
White House spokesman Jay Carney said US citizens are likely among the hostages in Algeria, and the United States is “seeking clarity” from the Algerian government about the situation.
“Unfortunately the best information we have at this time indicates that US citizens are among the hostages, but we don’t have at this point more details to provide to you,” Carney said. “We’re certainly concerned about reports of loss of life, and are seeking clarity from the government of Algeria.”
Asked whether the US has discussed playing a role in rescuing hostages in Algeria, Carney said he didn’t have any information on the point.
“This is an ongoing situation and we’re seeking clarity,” he said.
27
posted on
01/17/2013 11:01:40 AM PST
by
SE Mom
(Proud mom of an Iraq war combat vet)
To: SE Mom
The Drone asset Squadrons are too swamped with workloads monitoring Americans in Miami, Dallas, Grants Pass, and keeping hellfire crosshairs on NRA staffers, Joe Arpaio, and anyone who runs a red light on the cross-streets on the way to Sidwell Friends.
28
posted on
01/17/2013 11:09:30 AM PST
by
blackdog
(There is no such thing as healing, only a balance between destructive and constructive forces.)
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
'Thirty-five hostages killed in Algerian helicopter attack ... If only one hostage could be saved, , , , so much for a rescue,,, wtf
29
posted on
01/17/2013 11:14:15 AM PST
by
ßuddaßudd
(>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Any word yet from the administration on who is going to slip and bump their head on this one?
30
posted on
01/17/2013 11:15:50 AM PST
by
The Cajun
(Sarah Palin, Mark Levin......Nuff said.)
To: The Cajun
Where i live in Norway there has been endless breaking news coverage of this story. However the trouble is that there is so many conflicting reports. Still do not know how many have been killed or what have happened.
To: SE Mom
Where's the president while this is happening?Consulting with his political advisers on how to make the Republicans take the blame. If Romney hadn't mentioned Mali in one of the debates, if Sean Hannity had not talked about Benghazi, if Eisenhower had not sent troops to Lebanon in 1958, this never would have happened.
To: Ernest_at_the_Beach
Barack will probably at least pretend to be a little more on top of things this time. But heck, why not - it’s working out exactly as he wants it to (dead Americans while AQ tries to run off and hide out in their big new safehouse, Libya, provided by one Barack Obama himself).
That said, the fact that this involves other nationals may prevent him from cheering too loudly.
I’m sure any moment now we’ll see the carefully staged photo of Bambi intently staring at a screen with Hillary sitting worshipfully by his side...it’s only a matter of time.
33
posted on
01/17/2013 1:04:09 PM PST
by
livius
To: marthemaria
Yes, I read that the Norwegians are concerned. I think one of the gas companies is Norwegian, isn’t it?
34
posted on
01/17/2013 1:10:55 PM PST
by
livius
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