Algeria Hostage Crisis Over, More Hostages Reported Dead
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Hemera/Thinkstock(ALGIERS, Algeria) — After the Algerian military’s final assault on terrorists holding hostages at a gas complex, the four-day hostage crisis is over, but apparently with additional loss of life among the foreign hostages.
The Japanese fear “very grave” news, and multiple casualties from among the 10 citizens working at the In Amenas gas plant are feared.
According to state media, 29 militants are dead. Many of the remaining hostages appear to have been freed safely, with some accounts saying 16 have been rescued.
Media reports also say that a total of 19 hostages have died during the Algerian military’s assaults on the al Qaeda-linked terrorists who took over the BP joint venture facility on Wednesday.
One American, Fred Buttaccio of Texas, has been confirmed dead by the U.S. State Department.
But another American, Mark Cobb of Corpus Christi, Texas is now confirmed as safe.
In a statement Saturday, BP said that of 18 BP employees working at the plant in the Sahara, 14 are now safe, two with non-life-threatening injuries. The status of four employees, however, remains unknown. The facility is a joint venture with the Norwegian company Statoil and the Algerian national oil company.
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