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| Algeria crisis: Further UK casualties feared in Algeria | Algeria crisis: Further UK casualties feared in Algeria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| UK officials are preparing for news of further British casualties after the Algerian military ended a hostage crisis at a desert gas facility. | UK officials are preparing for news of further British casualties after the Algerian military ended a hostage crisis at a desert gas facility. |
| David Cameron warned of possible "bad news" to follow and postponed a speech on Europe due on Friday. | David Cameron warned of possible "bad news" to follow and postponed a speech on Europe due on Friday. |
| 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. |
| A number of foreign nationals had been taken hostage near In Amenas. One Briton was confirmed dead on Wednesday. | A number of foreign nationals had been taken hostage near In Amenas. One Briton was confirmed dead on Wednesday. |
| Four foreigners were reportedly freed in Thursday's operation by the Algerian military but others died, the state news agency reported. | Four foreigners were reportedly freed in Thursday's operation by the Algerian military but others died, the state news agency reported. |
| 'Still being searched' | 'Still being searched' |
| Algerian state television has reported that two Britons were among four foreigners killed in the operation, but there has been no confirmation of this. | Algerian state television has reported that two Britons were among four foreigners killed in the operation, but there has been no confirmation of this. |
| The British government has been told that the military operation is over but that gas plant is still being searched to see if people are hiding or if there are still groups of hostage-takers who have not yet been located. | The British government has been told that the military operation is over but that gas plant is still being searched to see if people are hiding or if there are still groups of hostage-takers who have not yet been located. |
| The prime minister said the UK faced "a very bad situation". | The prime minister said the UK 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. |
| "The Algerian armed forces have now attacked this compound. It is a very dangerous, a very uncertain, a very fluid situation and I think we have to prepare ourselves for the possibility of bad news ahead." | "The Algerian armed forces have now attacked this compound. It is a very dangerous, a very uncertain, 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: "Although details have yet to become final, 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: "Although details have yet to become final, I am afraid we should be under no illusion that there will be some bad and distressing news to follow from this terrorist attack." |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Whitehall sources had said ministers were still awaiting information from the Algerian government on the number of British dead, injured and missing. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Whitehall sources had said ministers were still awaiting information from the Algerian government on the number of British dead, injured and missing. |
| He 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. | He 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. |
| "Now, when I put that to people in Whitehall... they said 'we simply don't know the answer to this, but it may not be as wrong as you originally thought'." | "Now, when I put that to people in Whitehall... they said 'we simply don't know the answer to this, but it may not be as wrong as you originally thought'." |
| Our correspondent added that some British hostages were known to be safe, but he had been told up to 20 were still to be identified. | Our correspondent added that some British hostages were known to be safe, but he had been told up to 20 were still to be identified. |
| "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 shortly before 1800 GMT after a meeting of the emergency response committee 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 shortly before 1800 GMT after a meeting of the emergency response committee Cobra and a phone call with the Algerian prime minister. |
| Foreign Secretary William Hague is cutting short a visit to Australia due to the crisis, while ministers are planning to make a statement to Parliament on Friday morning to update MPs. | Foreign Secretary William Hague is cutting short a visit to Australia due to the crisis, while ministers are planning to make a statement to Parliament on Friday morning to update MPs. |
| 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". |
| Belfast man freed | Belfast man freed |
| Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In Amenas that hostage-takers occupied on Wednesday. | Algerian soldiers had been surrounding the facility near In Amenas that hostage-takers occupied on Wednesday. |
| The Algerian communications minister, Mohamed Said Belaid, said the 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 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." |
| The al-Qaeda-linked militants had said they were holding 41 foreign nationals, believed to include British, Japanese, US and Norwegian citizens, in retaliation for French military intervention in neighbouring Mali. | The al-Qaeda-linked militants had said they were holding 41 foreign nationals, believed to include British, Japanese, US and Norwegian citizens, 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. |
| No 10 said Mr Cameron had not been informed of the operation in advance and learned of it only when he 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 phoned his Algerian counterpart at 11:00 GMT on Thursday. |
| Earlier, the family of a Northern Irish hostage said he had been freed and was safe. | Earlier, the family of a Northern Irish hostage said he had been freed and was safe. |
| Stephen McFaul, 36, from Belfast, had been travelling on an Irish passport. His 13-year-old son, Dylan, said he could not wait to give his father "a big hug". | Stephen McFaul, 36, from Belfast, had been travelling on an Irish passport. His 13-year-old son, Dylan, said he could not wait to give his father "a big hug". |
| Other reports had incorrectly suggested a second hostage was from Northern Ireland. | Other reports had incorrectly suggested a second hostage was from Northern Ireland. |
| But the Foreign Office later told MP Ian Paisley Jnr that there had been a miscommunication within the department. | But the Foreign Office later told MP Ian Paisley Jnr that there had been a miscommunication within the department. |
| He said: "I am completely relieved tonight to hear from the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] that there was confusion and a miscommunication within their department and there in fact is only one hostage from Northern Ireland, who is now safe." | He said: "I am completely relieved tonight to hear from the FCO [Foreign and Commonwealth Office] that there was confusion and a miscommunication within their department and there in fact is only one hostage from Northern Ireland, who is now safe." |
| Algerian state media reported that among hostages who had escaped or been freed were two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya. | Algerian state media reported that among hostages who had escaped or been freed were two from Scotland, one from France and one from Kenya. |
| Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia said the kidnappers were Algerian and operating under orders from Mokhtar Belmokhtar, 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, a senior commander of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) until late last year. |
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