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| Algeria operation: UK hostages 'freed' | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A Northern Irish man is free reportedly along with two Scots after they were among a group held captive by militants at a gas facility in eastern Algeria. | |
| An Algerian military operation is ongoing. The facility's part operator, BP, says the situation remains unclear. | An Algerian military operation is ongoing. The facility's part operator, BP, says the situation remains unclear. |
| No 10 says David Cameron was not informed of the operation in advance and only learned of it when he phoned his Algerian counterpart at 11:00 GMT. | |
| A Briton and Algerian died on Wednesday after kidnappers entered the plant. | |
| BBC political correspondent Robin Brant said Number 10 was using diplomatic language but there was no doubt the prime minister was very angry. | |
| "He knows questions will be asked what influence he had trying to secure the release and safety of those [Britons] involved." | |
| A Downing Street spokesman said: "The prime minister is extremely concerned. It is a very grave and serious situation." | |
| 'Escaped or liberated' | 'Escaped or liberated' |
| Militants had earlier said they were holding 41 foreign nationals. They were believed to include British, Japanese, US and Norwegian citizens. | |
| BP says there are unconfirmed reports of casualties and of hostages being released or escaping. | BP says there are unconfirmed reports of casualties and of hostages being released or escaping. |
| The family of 36-year-old Stephen McFaul, from west Belfast, told the BBC he had been freed and was safe. | The family of 36-year-old Stephen McFaul, from west Belfast, told the BBC he had been freed and was safe. |
| Another hostage is also reportedly from Northern Ireland. The MP, Ian Paisley jnr, says he was called to the Foreign Office for a briefing about a constituent, a man from north Antrim who was travelling on a British passport. | Another hostage is also reportedly from Northern Ireland. The MP, Ian Paisley jnr, says he was called to the Foreign Office for a briefing about a constituent, a man from north Antrim who was travelling on a British passport. |
| Meanwhile, the Algerian state media says that some hostages have escaped or been liberated, including two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya. | Meanwhile, the Algerian state media says that some hostages have escaped or been liberated, including two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya. |
| It quoted an unnamed source as saying that "about half" the foreign hostages had been freed. | It quoted an unnamed source as saying that "about half" the foreign hostages had been freed. |
| Media reports quote militants saying 34 hostages were killed after Algerian forces opened fire from the air. | Media reports quote militants saying 34 hostages were killed after Algerian forces opened fire from the air. |
| The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner tweeted the situation was still very confused "with lots of rumours". | The BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner tweeted the situation was still very confused "with lots of rumours". |
| As well as Britons, the hostages are said to include Japanese, US, French and Norwegian nationals. | As well as Britons, the hostages are said to include Japanese, US, French and Norwegian nationals. |
| In a statement, BP's Chief Executive Bob Dudley said: "Supporting these families is our priority and we are doing all we can to help during this sad and uncertain time." | In a statement, BP's Chief Executive Bob Dudley said: "Supporting these families is our priority and we are doing all we can to help during this sad and uncertain time." |
| The company added that, as a precautionary measure, staged plans were under way to bring a group of non-essential workers out of Algeria. | The company added that, as a precautionary measure, staged plans were under way to bring a group of non-essential workers out of Algeria. |
| Cobra meeting | Cobra meeting |
| The prime minister will chair another Cobra meeting on Friday morning, ahead of his speech on Europe in the Hague. | |
| He has also spoken to his counterparts in Norway and Japan. | He has also spoken to his counterparts in Norway and Japan. |
| The prime minister's spokesman said the situation was "very serious and dangerous" but the government was "working through" the Algerians and BP. | The prime minister's spokesman said the situation was "very serious and dangerous" but the government was "working through" the Algerians and BP. |
| The complex at In Amenas is operated by state oil company, Sonatrach, along with Britain's BP and Norway's Statoil. | The complex at In Amenas is operated by state oil company, Sonatrach, along with Britain's BP and Norway's Statoil. |
| Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kabila earlier said the militants claimed they had seized 41 foreign workers. | Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kabila earlier said the militants claimed they had seized 41 foreign workers. |
| He said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a senior commander in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year, when he set up his own armed group after apparently falling out with other leaders. | He said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a senior commander in al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year, when he set up his own armed group after apparently falling out with other leaders. |
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