Militants occupy BP gas complex in Algeria

AOMAR OUALI PAUL SCHEMM Associated Press Published:

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) -- Islamist militants attacked and occupied a natural gas field partly operated by BP in southern Algeria early Wednesday, killing two foreigners and holding possibly dozens of others, including Americans, hostage while surrounded by Algerian forces.

A militant group claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it was in revenge for Algeria's support of France's operation against al-Qaida-linked Malian rebels groups far to the southeast. It said it was holding 41 foreigners, including seven Americans.

In a statement BP said the site was "attacked and occupied by a group of unidentified armed people," and some of its personnel are believed to be "held by the occupiers."


In addition to those killed -- one of them a Briton -- six were wounded in the attack, including two foreigners, two police officers and two security agents, Algeria's state news agency reported.

Algerian forces surrounded the kidnappers and were negotiating for the release of the hostages, an Algerian security official based in the region said, adding that the militants had come from Mali. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.



The group's claim could not be independently substantiated and the U.S. embassy said it wasn't "aware of any U.S. citizen casualties."


The Masked Brigade was formed by al-Qaida's longtime strongman in the Sahara region, Moktar Belmoktar, a one-eyed Algerian who recently declared he was leaving the terror network's Algerian branch, Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb for his own group.









Prime Minister David Cameron's office said "several British nationals" are involved in the "ongoing incident," without giving an exact number.


"We are certain that JGC is the one affected," Suga said, adding that the government is now negotiating with local officials through diplomatic channels, asking to protect the lives of the Japanese nationals.









Schemm reported from Rabat, Morocco. Associated Press writers Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo, Jill Lawless in London, Jan Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Esam Mohamed in Tripoli, Libya and Shawn Pogatchnik in Dublin contributed to this report.