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Algerian crisis over after assault ends with death of seven remaining hostages Algerian crisis over after assault ends with death of seven remaining hostages
(about 2 hours later)
A final assault by Algerian special forces on the group of jihadist hostage-takers who seized the In Amenas gas facility ended on Saturday with the deaths of the seven remaining foreign hostages, reportedly including a Briton. Also killed was the Niger terrorist believed to lead the al-Qaida splinter group's leader, Abdul Rahman al-Nigeri. Five Britons and a UK resident were believed to have been killed when a final assault by Algerian special forces on the jihadist hostage-takers who seized a Saharan gas facility ended in mass bloodshed on Saturday.
Britain's defence secretary, Philip Hammond, blamed the hostage-takers for the "appalling and unacceptable loss of life". Sixteen other foreign nationals – including two Americans, two Germans and a Portuguese – were freed during the operation.
If the death of another Briton is confirmed, it would be the third during the four-day hostage crisis. Bob Dudley, chief executive of BP, one of the companies involved in operating the plant, said four of the company's staff were still missing and there were "grave concerns" for their safety, while two employees had sustained wounds during the attack. After a day of desperate uncertainty over the fate of the remaining British captives, the prime minister, David Cameron said the deaths would unite world leaders in the cause of defeating global terrorism. "Our determination is stronger than ever to work with allies right around the world to root out and defeat this terrorist scourge and those who encourage it," he said.
Sixteen foreign nationals – including two Americans, two Germans and a Portuguese – were accounted for during Saturday's operation. The 11 surviving Islamist fighters from the group of 40 who attacked the desert plant last Wednesday were all killed in the raid on a workshop where they had holed up. Announcing the latest casualties, the British foreign secretary William Hague said: "We believe that there are five British nationals and one British resident who are either deceased or unaccounted for, in addition to the one fatality that we had already confirmed."
First reports suggested the hostages were killed by their captors as the attempt to rescue them was launched. Official sources quoted by the Algerian newspaper El Watan said the militants executed them after having given up hope of escape. The state oil and gas company, Sonatrach, said the hostage- takers, who identified themselves as Those Who Sign in Blood – a splinter group of al-Qaida in the Islamic Mahgreb – had boobytrapped the complex with explosives. Earlier on Saturday, Algerian special forces found 15 burned bodies at the plant. He added: "We are working hard to get definitive information about each individual. We are in touch with all of the families concerned."
Details of the operation's bloody end emerged as it was revealed that the UK had offered assistance to the Algerian government, reportedly including UK special forces. The offer was apparently rejected by Algeria. First reports suggested the hostages were killed by their captors as the attempt to rescue them was launched. Official sources quoted by the Algerian newspaper El Watan said the militants executed them after having given up hope of escape. The Niger terrorist believed to have led the al-Qaida splinter group behind the hostage-taking, Abdul Rahman al-Nigeri, was also killed during the final assault. Algeria's interior ministry said that 23 captives and 32 kidnappers had died during the four-day hostage crisis.
The 11 surviving Islamist fighters from the group of 40 who attacked the desert plant last Wednesday were also killed in the raid on a workshop where they had taken their captives.
The state oil and gas company, Sonatrach, said the hostage- takers, who identified themselves as Those Who Sign in Blood – a splinter group of al-Qaida in the Islamic Mahgreb – had boobytrapped the complex with explosives. Earlier on Saturday, Algerian special forces found 15 burned bodies at the plant.
Details of the operation's bloody end emerged as it was revealed that the UK had offered assistance to the Algerian government, reportedly including British special forces. The offer was apparently rejected by Algeria.
The hostage crisis began when two groups of Islamists attacked two buses carrying foreign workers then took hundreds of Algerians and expatriates hostage at the complex. The group had been demanding the cessation of a French military operation against Islamists in northern Mali as well as the release of two men jailed in the US.The hostage crisis began when two groups of Islamists attacked two buses carrying foreign workers then took hundreds of Algerians and expatriates hostage at the complex. The group had been demanding the cessation of a French military operation against Islamists in northern Mali as well as the release of two men jailed in the US.
Last Thursday, Algerian special forces mounted an operation to take back the plant – to the initial dismay of the British and other governments, which were not notified in advance.Last Thursday, Algerian special forces mounted an operation to take back the plant – to the initial dismay of the British and other governments, which were not notified in advance.
According to the first accounts to emerge from In Amenas, Saturday's raid was launched after Nigeri and his group threatened to blow up the plant and kill the remaining hostages. The decision to go in was made after attempts by the terrorists to sabotage and mine the plant were detected overnight on Friday. According to El Watan, the hostage-takers had tried to sabotage the gas installation by starting a fire, but it was quickly extinguished. According to early accounts to emerge from In Amenas, Saturday's raid was launched after Nigeri and his group threatened to blow up the plant and kill the remaining hostages. The decision to go in was made after attempts by the terrorists to sabotage and mine the plant were detected overnight on Friday. According to El Watan, the hostage- takers had tried to sabotage the gas installation by starting a fire, but it was quickly extinguished.
"The terrorists were prepared to commit a collective suicide; the army's intervention led to their neutralisation. Unfortunately, the hostages were executed," the newspaper said."The terrorists were prepared to commit a collective suicide; the army's intervention led to their neutralisation. Unfortunately, the hostages were executed," the newspaper said.
As the British ambassador to Algeria, Martyn Roper, arrived with a consular team at In Amenas , Britain's foreign secretary, William Hague, said that, while most of the 30 British nationals originally involved were known to be safe, the fate of "fewer than 10" UK citizens remained unknown. The crisis, Hague said, was a reminder of "the scale and ruthlessness of the terrorist threat that we and other nations face". One senior government source said that London had been hampered by a continuing lack of information from the Algerian government.
Hague, who had cut short a trip to Australia to chair meetings of the government's emergency committee, Cobra, said: "We must continue to prepare ourselves for bad news." Cameron, who had to postpone a major speech on Europe on Friday to handle the crisis, was due to speak to the Algerian prime minister and Hague was in touch with the Algerian foreign minister.
The crisis, he said, was a reminder of "the scale and ruthlessness of the terrorist threat that we and other nations face". One senior government source said London had been hampered by a continuing lack of information from the Algerian government.
David Cameron, who had to postpone a major speech on Europe on Friday to handle the crisis, was due to speak to the Algerian prime minister last night and Hague was in touch with the Algerian foreign minister.