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| British survivors of Algeria siege return home with tales of escape | British survivors of Algeria siege return home with tales of escape |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Amid the still emerging horror stories from the In Amenas gas plant, and the likelihood that some British hostages were killed as Algerian special forces began a final raid on the facility, there were tales of miraculous escapes. | Amid the still emerging horror stories from the In Amenas gas plant, and the likelihood that some British hostages were killed as Algerian special forces began a final raid on the facility, there were tales of miraculous escapes. |
| Surely one of the most fortunate was that of Alan Wright, a 37-year-old BP worker who hid from the Islamist attackers inside the plant for 24 hours before chancing a sprint through the desert alongside Algerian co-workers, not knowing whether they would run into armed militants or security forces. | Surely one of the most fortunate was that of Alan Wright, a 37-year-old BP worker who hid from the Islamist attackers inside the plant for 24 hours before chancing a sprint through the desert alongside Algerian co-workers, not knowing whether they would run into armed militants or security forces. |
| Recounting his experiences back in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, where he lives with his wife, Karlyn, and two infant daughters, Wright said he avoided immediate capture by any of the several dozen fighters from the terrorist group Signers in Blood – a splinter group of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb – thanks to a newly organised change to his shift patterns. | Recounting his experiences back in Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, where he lives with his wife, Karlyn, and two infant daughters, Wright said he avoided immediate capture by any of the several dozen fighters from the terrorist group Signers in Blood – a splinter group of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb – thanks to a newly organised change to his shift patterns. |
| "If I had not done that, I would have been on a bus back to the airport to go home – a bus that was attacked by the terrorists," he said. "I was also on time for work, going from the accommodation quarters into the wire compound which surrounded the offices and maintenance buildings and the gas plant. If I [had been] 10 minutes late, I would have been in an area that was a first target for the terrorists." | "If I had not done that, I would have been on a bus back to the airport to go home – a bus that was attacked by the terrorists," he said. "I was also on time for work, going from the accommodation quarters into the wire compound which surrounded the offices and maintenance buildings and the gas plant. If I [had been] 10 minutes late, I would have been in an area that was a first target for the terrorists." |
| The first sign of anything wrong was a loss of power accompanied by an alarm, Wright said. Returning to an office building, he and three expatriate colleagues were told by Algerian staff that the plant was under attack. They locked themselves in, covered the windows and listened to several hours of gunfire outside. | The first sign of anything wrong was a loss of power accompanied by an alarm, Wright said. Returning to an office building, he and three expatriate colleagues were told by Algerian staff that the plant was under attack. They locked themselves in, covered the windows and listened to several hours of gunfire outside. |
| "Someone came into the building about 9.30am and said good morning in Arabic very politely, and we were sure that was a terrorist trying to entice people out, so we didn't move," Wright said. "We sat throughout the day in darkness and silence, sometimes taking the chance to go to the toilet or get some food or drink, then we decided to move to another room about 6pm." | "Someone came into the building about 9.30am and said good morning in Arabic very politely, and we were sure that was a terrorist trying to entice people out, so we didn't move," Wright said. "We sat throughout the day in darkness and silence, sometimes taking the chance to go to the toilet or get some food or drink, then we decided to move to another room about 6pm." |
| The group of about 30 workers took it in turns to keep watch throughout Wednesday night. Among them were Algerians who could have left safely, he said. "But they knew if they did it might betray us, and we owe these guys our lives for staying with us." | The group of about 30 workers took it in turns to keep watch throughout Wednesday night. Among them were Algerians who could have left safely, he said. "But they knew if they did it might betray us, and we owe these guys our lives for staying with us." |
| Wright sent text messages from his mobile phone to reassure Karlyn, so far as he could. "Don't panic. Terrorists in camp. They have accommodation block and factory," read one, followed by: "BP may say I am missing. I am not. Don't worry. Don't reply. Love all of you." A final text read: "Still here." | Wright sent text messages from his mobile phone to reassure Karlyn, so far as he could. "Don't panic. Terrorists in camp. They have accommodation block and factory," read one, followed by: "BP may say I am missing. I am not. Don't worry. Don't reply. Love all of you." A final text read: "Still here." |
| Algerian employees decided they would break through a fence and escape into the desert at first light on Thursday. Wright said he initially did not want to join them but changed his mind when he heard the noise of the wire being cut. | Algerian employees decided they would break through a fence and escape into the desert at first light on Thursday. Wright said he initially did not want to join them but changed his mind when he heard the noise of the wire being cut. |
| He said: "A wire cut under tension makes such a noise when it breaks. You knew it travelled to where the terrorists were. But within 30 seconds they had both fences open and we were free to go. That was it: backpack on, try and disguise yourself as best you can, and away we went." | He said: "A wire cut under tension makes such a noise when it breaks. You knew it travelled to where the terrorists were. But within 30 seconds they had both fences open and we were free to go. That was it: backpack on, try and disguise yourself as best you can, and away we went." |
| In a separate interview with Sky News, Wright described the terror of not knowing whether to trust anyone wearing a uniform, given reports that the kidnappers had disguised themselves as military or police. | In a separate interview with Sky News, Wright described the terror of not knowing whether to trust anyone wearing a uniform, given reports that the kidnappers had disguised themselves as military or police. |
| He said: "We got about a kilometre into the desert and you could see there was a military point with eight or nine military personnel, with guns pointing towards us. They'd identified us and were making tracks our way. You don't know: is it the terrorists or is it the gendarmes?" | He said: "We got about a kilometre into the desert and you could see there was a military point with eight or nine military personnel, with guns pointing towards us. They'd identified us and were making tracks our way. You don't know: is it the terrorists or is it the gendarmes?" |
| For almost half an hour the gas plant staff were made to sit on their knees, hands in the air, before the uniformed men called the group over. This, Wright said, was the most terrifying moment. "We went one by one. As we got there we were searched and then put to one side. The Algerians were kept to one side and us to the other. That's when you start thinking you've just made the biggest mistake of your life, because you were separated. There's only one way to separate us, and that's because they're going to be free." | For almost half an hour the gas plant staff were made to sit on their knees, hands in the air, before the uniformed men called the group over. This, Wright said, was the most terrifying moment. "We went one by one. As we got there we were searched and then put to one side. The Algerians were kept to one side and us to the other. That's when you start thinking you've just made the biggest mistake of your life, because you were separated. There's only one way to separate us, and that's because they're going to be free." |
| To his relief, one of the Algerian staff members recognised some soldiers and the group knew they were safe. Wright used a satellite phone to call Karlyn. | To his relief, one of the Algerian staff members recognised some soldiers and the group knew they were safe. Wright used a satellite phone to call Karlyn. |
| Now home, Wright's relief is, inevitably, tempered by the knowledge that others were significantly less fortunate. He said: "It is a bitter sweet reunion for me because I think about those left behind." | Now home, Wright's relief is, inevitably, tempered by the knowledge that others were significantly less fortunate. He said: "It is a bitter sweet reunion for me because I think about those left behind." |
| Of his Algerian colleagues, he added: "The guys who had the option to surrender and be safe but decided to stay and help us escape, you'll be in debt to them for the rest of your life. The gendarmes as well, the military – if it wasn't for them it would have been a lot worse." | Of his Algerian colleagues, he added: "The guys who had the option to surrender and be safe but decided to stay and help us escape, you'll be in debt to them for the rest of your life. The gendarmes as well, the military – if it wasn't for them it would have been a lot worse." |
| Planes chartered by the government and BP have returned a total of 22 British nationals who escaped. A dozen or so others have been identified, among them Allen McCloud, 53, from Plymouth. | Planes chartered by the government and BP have returned a total of 22 British nationals who escaped. A dozen or so others have been identified, among them Allen McCloud, 53, from Plymouth. |
| McCloud's brother, Malcolm, criticised the British government and BP for not keeping the family informed. He told the BBC: "The lack of information from all the relevant sources was very poor. We were kept up to date from friends who worked in the oil and gas industry and the news." | McCloud's brother, Malcolm, criticised the British government and BP for not keeping the family informed. He told the BBC: "The lack of information from all the relevant sources was very poor. We were kept up to date from friends who worked in the oil and gas industry and the news." |
| Similar flights have repatriated other freed hostages, including a number of Norwegian nationals working for Statoil, which ran the plant alongside BP. | Similar flights have repatriated other freed hostages, including a number of Norwegian nationals working for Statoil, which ran the plant alongside BP. |
| JGC, a Japanese energy corporation, said it had 78 workers at the site, of whom 61 were known to be safe. However, there was no confirmed news about the remainder, among them 10 Japanese nationals. | JGC, a Japanese energy corporation, said it had 78 workers at the site, of whom 61 were known to be safe. However, there was no confirmed news about the remainder, among them 10 Japanese nationals. |
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