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Algeria hostage crisis: UK ambassador to fly to plant | Algeria hostage crisis: UK ambassador to fly to plant |
(35 minutes later) | |
The British ambassador is to fly to an Algerian gas facility amid reports seven hostages and 11-hostage takers have been killed in an army raid. | The British ambassador is to fly to an Algerian gas facility amid reports seven hostages and 11-hostage takers have been killed in an army raid. |
The ambassador, along with a small consular and political, team will be flying to In Amenas, the town close to the plant to give consular support. | The ambassador, along with a small consular and political, team will be flying to In Amenas, the town close to the plant to give consular support. |
The seven hostages were killed by their captors, state news agency APS said. | |
As reports of the assault emerged, the foreign secretary said under 10 Britons were at risk or unaccounted for. | |
Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government's emergency committee, Cobra, William Hague said "we must continue to prepare ourselves for bad news". | |
Earlier, Mr Hague said the crisis remained the UK's "top priority" until every British national was accounted for. | |
Militants, who have held the site for four days, had told a Mauritanian news agency they had seven foreign hostages. | Militants, who have held the site for four days, had told a Mauritanian news agency they had seven foreign hostages. |
The hostage-takers initially attacked two buses carrying foreign workers before taking Algerians and foreign workers hostage at the complex, which is part-operated by BP. | |
'Glad to be out' | |
A number of freed Britons were been pictured on Algerian TV, where one said he was impressed by Algerian soldiers who battled with the militants. | |
One of the freed hostages Alan Wright from Portsoy, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has returned to the UK. | |
Speaking to BBC Scotland he said: "I'm back in the UK with my wife and looking forward to seeing the rest of my family once I get home and also thinking of all my friends not yet safe." | |
Another man held hostage, Iain Strachan, 38, from Howwood in Renfrewshire, Scotland, said he was "very relieved to be out", adding: "Obviously we still don't really know what's happening back on site. | |
"So, as much as we're glad to be out, our thoughts are with colleagues who are still there at the moment." | |
He said the Algerian army's assistance had been "fantastic". | |
"I've never been so relieved as when they came and got us off site," he said. "We thank them very much for that." | |
Mr Strachan was interviewed on a bus alongside Darren Matthews, 29, from Teesside. | |
Mr Matthews said: "I am relieved to be going to see friends and family. I feel safe at the moment but I won't feel 100% happy until I'm back in the UK, when I am back with my family. | |
"My heart goes out to the guys that are still there and hopefully everyone comes home safe because, at the end of the day, it's only work. No-one should have to go through that just for a job." | |
Are you, or is someone you know, affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. | Are you, or is someone you know, affected by the issues in this story? Send us your experiences using the form below. |