'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

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

H/T to the Drudge Report.

Who has the siege and the aftermath headline with photo of the plant and :

**************************************************

REPORT: Hostages held in Algeria killed...
BLOODBATH: Helicopters strafe gas plant in desert...
Fate of 7 Kidnapped Americans Unknown...
Hostages 'made to wear explosives'...
Obama, Clinton Silent on Crisis...
LATEST: Some 'escape Islamist captors'...
Gunmen dubbed 'Signatories for Blood'...
One-eyed Jihadi leader...
Retaliation for France intervention in Mali...
FLASHBACK: Romney mocked for debate mention...
LIVE...

WHERE ARE THE AMERICANS?!

[NormsRevenge]

sigh..
AQ is on the wain..
or so we been told..
Tell that to the latest victims..
of adherents to tRoP.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Algeria (and the rest of Africa) - where life is cheap.

[livius]

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.

[wideawake]

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.

[wideawake]

AQ is on the wain

This 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.

[kabar]

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.

[NormsRevenge]

uhhh haywain? we used to have a haywagon ,, but my memory has waned since we rode it .. Thanks for the redirect!

[hummingbird]

Instead of E.O.’s against Americans, Obama should be handling something he is supposed to handle.

[NormsRevenge]

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.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

**************************************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.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

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.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Some Ugly photos at the Daily Mail site....with modified headline now.

[SE Mom]

Where’s the president while this is happening?

(rhetorical question)

[IslamE]

All while Obama “Par-teeeeeeeeeeeeeees”!

[Eurotwit]

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.

[IslamE]

While Americans are being killed, i am glad you have the time to enlighten us with your mastery of the English language!/sarc

[livius]

...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.