British hostages among 41 held in terrorist attack on gas facility

The Foreign Office last night was unable to confirm a report by the Algeria state news agency that a British national was among the two people killed in the attack on the gas facility at In Amenas, close to the Libyan border.

Six others were believed to be wounded, including two foreigners, two police officers and two security agents.

The natural gas complex, the third largest in the country, is a joint venture of BP, Norway’s Statoil and the Algerian Sonatrach company. A Japanese company, JGC, provides services for the facility as well.

The number and identities of the hostages was still unclear, but the Irish government said a 36-year-old married Irishman was among them and believed to be unharmed.

Norwegian and Japanese employees may have also been seized and US officials have confirmed Americans are among those being held.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that British nationals are caught up in a terrorist incident ongoing near the town of In Amenas at an oil installation near the Algerian border with Libya. The British embassy in Algiers is liaising with local authorities.”

David Cameron’s official spokesman said: “The ongoing incident has involved various nationalities, including several British nationals. We are working with BP to support the families of staff and provide consular assistance.”

An emergency British Cobra meeting held yesterday was attended by ministers from the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence as well as officials from other agencies.

No family hotline has been set up for the incident because the number of British nationals involved is “very small”, according to officials.

The Foreign Office said it was working with BP to support the families of those involved.

Algerian forces yesterday surrounded the complex and negotiations for the release of the hostages were continuing.

A group called the Katibat Moulathamine, or the Masked Brigade, called a Mauritanian news outlet, which often carries announcements from extremist groups, to say one of its subsidiaries was responsible. The caller said the kidnapping was carried out by ‘Those Who Signed in Blood’, a group created to attack the countries participating in the ongoing offensive against Islamist groups in Mali. Britain has provided two RAF C-17 transport aircraft to support the operation as well as offering to share intelligence with Paris.

Downing Street said it was “too early to speculate” on the motive for the attack, or whether it is, as claimed, linked to French support – backed by the UK – for Mali’s government in its fight against Islamist forces which have occupied the north of the country.

The attack happened as EU foreign ministers were preparing to meet tomorrow in Brussels to discuss plans to send a 400-strong military training mission to Mali.

BP said the gas field was “attacked and occupied by a group of unidentified armed people” at about 5am UK time.

“Our absolute priority is the safety and security of our staff,” it said in a statement. “We do not yet have confirmed information on the status of personnel at the site but believe some are being held by the occupiers.”

The Algerian interior ministry said the onslaught began when three vehicles carrying heavily-armed-militants ambushed a bus carrying employees to the nearby airport. Initially they were driven off, but they then headed for the main complex.

“After their failed attempt, the terrorist group headed to the complex’s living quarters and took a number of workers with foreign nationalities hostage,” an interior ministry statement said. “The forces of the People’s National Army and security services arrived at the scene and immediately took all necessary measures to make the area secure and seek a rapid resolution of the situation.”