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| Algeria hostage crisis: Further UK casualties feared | Algeria hostage crisis: Further UK casualties feared |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The fate of a number of British hostages held in a desert gas complex remains unknown in the wake of an Algerian military attempt to free them. | The fate of a number of British hostages held in a desert gas complex remains unknown in the wake of an Algerian military attempt to free them. |
| They were among foreign nationals held near In Amenas who the Algerian forces attempted to free from militants. | They were among foreign nationals held near In Amenas who the Algerian forces attempted to free from militants. |
| On Friday, a day after the operation began, the Foreign Office said "the terrorist incident... is ongoing". | On Friday, a day after the operation began, the Foreign Office said "the terrorist incident... is ongoing". |
| A Briton was confirmed dead on Wednesday and David Cameron has warned of further possible "bad news". | A Briton was confirmed dead on Wednesday and David Cameron has warned of further possible "bad news". |
| The state-run APS news agency cited local officials as saying another two Britons and two Filipinos were killed on Thursday. | |
| The prime minister postponed a major speech on Europe scheduled for Friday, and Foreign Secretary William Hague has cut short a trip to Australia to return to the UK. | The prime minister postponed a major speech on Europe scheduled for Friday, and Foreign Secretary William Hague has cut short a trip to Australia to return to the UK. |
| The BBC's Nick Robinson said sources had told him officials were prepared for "multiple" British casualties. | The BBC's Nick Robinson said sources had told him officials were prepared for "multiple" British casualties. |
| Mr Hague said he condemned "utterly the wanton act of terrorism", and said his priority was to "identify exactly what has happened to each British national caught up in this incident." | Mr Hague said he condemned "utterly the wanton act of terrorism", and said his priority was to "identify exactly what has happened to each British national caught up in this incident." |
| He added in a tweet: "Primary responsibility for tragic events in Algeria rest with terrorists who murdered some and held others hostage". | He added in a tweet: "Primary responsibility for tragic events in Algeria rest with terrorists who murdered some and held others hostage". |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said he could not provide further information but added: "Our priority will remain the safety of British nationals and their co-workers. We cannot provide any details that might endanger their lives. But we are working round-the-clock to resolve this crisis." | A Foreign Office spokesman said he could not provide further information but added: "Our priority will remain the safety of British nationals and their co-workers. We cannot provide any details that might endanger their lives. But we are working round-the-clock to resolve this crisis." |
| A Foreign Office team in Algiers had not yet been given permission by Algerian officials to visit the site, BBC correspondent Gordon Corera reports. | A Foreign Office team in Algiers had not yet been given permission by Algerian officials to visit the site, BBC correspondent Gordon Corera reports. |
| The full details of the operation launched by the Algerian military on Thursday, a day after the gas plant workers were taken hostage, are still emerging. | The full details of the operation launched by the Algerian military on Thursday, a day after the gas plant workers were taken hostage, are still emerging. |
| But reports suggest Algerian forces used helicopter gunships to attack the compound as hostages were being moved in vehicles around the site. | But reports suggest Algerian forces used helicopter gunships to attack the compound as hostages were being moved in vehicles around the site. |
| As many as 600 Algerians and four foreigners, including two Scots, were freed but others died, the state news agency reported. | As many as 600 Algerians and four foreigners, including two Scots, were freed but others died, the state news agency reported. |
| In the long and anxious hours since the Algerian government revealed it had begun military action, Whitehall officials have been trying to account for all the British hostages. | In the long and anxious hours since the Algerian government revealed it had begun military action, Whitehall officials have been trying to account for all the British hostages. |
| Some are known to be safe but late last night there were still concerns about the fate of up to 20 who, if not missing or in hiding, are feared to be injured or dead. | Some are known to be safe but late last night there were still concerns about the fate of up to 20 who, if not missing or in hiding, are feared to be injured or dead. |
| This morning in the Commons, MPs will hear a statement providing the latest information. It may also reveal the frustration felt by ministers whose offer of advice on how to handle a siege was shunned by the Algerians. | This morning in the Commons, MPs will hear a statement providing the latest information. It may also reveal the frustration felt by ministers whose offer of advice on how to handle a siege was shunned by the Algerians. |
| The reaction of one of those involved when they heard the news that helicopter gunships had attacked vehicles full of people was "Please God, what are they doing?" When the full scale of what has happened emerges public reactions may be even stronger. | The reaction of one of those involved when they heard the news that helicopter gunships had attacked vehicles full of people was "Please God, what are they doing?" When the full scale of what has happened emerges public reactions may be even stronger. |
| 'Still being searched' | 'Still being searched' |
| Earlier the British government said it had been told the military operation was over, with the gas plant still being searched to see if people were hiding or if there were still groups of hostage-takers who had not yet been located. | Earlier the British government said it had been told the military operation was over, with the gas plant still being searched to see if people were hiding or if there were still groups of hostage-takers who had not yet been located. |
| Mr Cameron chaired another meeting of the government's emergency response committee, Cobra, for about 45 minutes on Friday morning. He will make a statement to Parliament at about 11:00 GMT. | |
| Mr Cameron said on Thursday night that the country faced "a very bad situation". | Mr Cameron said on Thursday night that the country faced "a very bad situation". |
| "A number of British citizens have been taken hostage. Already we know of one who has died," Mr Cameron said. | "A number of British citizens have been taken hostage. Already we know of one who has died," Mr Cameron said. |
| "It is a very dangerous... a very fluid situation and I think we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility of bad news ahead." | "It is a very dangerous... a very fluid situation and I think we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility of bad news ahead." |
| Later, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said: "I am afraid we should be under no illusion that there will be some bad and distressing news to follow from this terrorist attack." | Later, Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt said: "I am afraid we should be under no illusion that there will be some bad and distressing news to follow from this terrorist attack." |
| 'Anxious' | 'Anxious' |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "You saw in [Mr Cameron's] face, you heard in his voice, you could tell from the words just how anxious they are in Whitehall about further casualties. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said: "You saw in [Mr Cameron's] face, you heard in his voice, you could tell from the words just how anxious they are in Whitehall about further casualties. |
| "I am being told that they are prepared for what are being called multiple casualties. Early on in this siege there was talk, all of it unconfirmed, of as many as 35 dead from all nationalities." | "I am being told that they are prepared for what are being called multiple casualties. Early on in this siege there was talk, all of it unconfirmed, of as many as 35 dead from all nationalities." |
| Our editor added that some British hostages were known to be safe, but he had been told up to 20 were still to be accounted for. | Our editor added that some British hostages were known to be safe, but he had been told up to 20 were still to be accounted for. |
| "Some may still be missing, some... could still be hiding, others could be injured and not be properly identified, but sadly, too, there may be others who are dead." | "Some may still be missing, some... could still be hiding, others could be injured and not be properly identified, but sadly, too, there may be others who are dead." |
| Mr Cameron had been due to make a long-awaited speech on the UK's future relationship with Europe in the Netherlands on Friday, but made the decision to postpone his speech after a meeting of Cobra and a phone call with the Algerian prime minister. | Mr Cameron had been due to make a long-awaited speech on the UK's future relationship with Europe in the Netherlands on Friday, but made the decision to postpone his speech after a meeting of Cobra and a phone call with the Algerian prime minister. |
| No 10 said Mr Cameron had not been informed of the operation in advance and learned of it only when he had phoned his Algerian counterpart at 11:00 GMT on Thursday. | No 10 said Mr Cameron had not been informed of the operation in advance and learned of it only when he had phoned his Algerian counterpart at 11:00 GMT on Thursday. |
| Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the reports of the "grave and tragic events" were "deeply concerning". | Shadow foreign secretary Douglas Alexander said the reports of the "grave and tragic events" were "deeply concerning". |
| Among the Britons freed were: | Among the Britons freed were: |
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| The Algerian communications minister, Mohamed Said Belaid, said the military operation had been "successful in neutralising a large number of terrorists and freeing a large number of hostages". | The Algerian communications minister, Mohamed Said Belaid, said the military operation had been "successful in neutralising a large number of terrorists and freeing a large number of hostages". |
| "But unfortunately, and we are sorry to say, there were some deaths and injuries. We do not yet have a definitive figure." | "But unfortunately, and we are sorry to say, there were some deaths and injuries. We do not yet have a definitive figure." |
| Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who was a senior commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year. | Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, who was a senior commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year. |
| The militants had said they were holding the hostages in retaliation for French military intervention in neighbouring Mali. | The militants had said they were holding the hostages in retaliation for French military intervention in neighbouring Mali. |
| In a statement, the gas facility's part operator, BP, said its focus was "100% on the safety and welfare" of the workers and their families. | In a statement, the gas facility's part operator, BP, said its focus was "100% on the safety and welfare" of the workers and their families. |
| "We are now beginning a staged and planned reduction in non-essential workforce," it said. | "We are now beginning a staged and planned reduction in non-essential workforce," it said. |
| Have you, or someone you know, been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. | Have you, or someone you know, been affected by the issues raised in this story? Send us your comments using the form below. |