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Algeria crisis: Attack could not have been anticipated, says MacAskill Algeria crisis: Brother of Scots hostage Kenny Whiteside 'told of death'
(about 2 hours later)
Scotland's justice secretary believes no-one could have anticipated the "horrendous attack" at an Algerian gas plant involving people from Scotland. The brother of one of the hostages held at an Algerian gas plant has said police have told him he is dead.
Kenny MacAskill confirmed two workers with Scottish connections were among 48 hostages killed during the four-day siege at the BP-run In Amenas facility. Kenny Whiteside was originally from Glenrothes in Fife but had lived in South Africa for 30 years.
His brother, Bob, told BBC Scotland he understood that Mr Whiteside was executed by his captors.
The Scottish government has said two workers with Scottish connections were among 48 hostages killed during the siege at the In Amenas facility.
A further eight Scots escaped and are now back in Britain.A further eight Scots escaped and are now back in Britain.
Mr MacAskill said there had always been "difficulties" in Algeria but no one could have foreseen what happened. Another of the Scottish hostages who has returned to the UK has been speaking about how he managed to escape across the desert after Algerian colleagues cut a hole in a wire fence at the gas plant.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Algeria is a country I know well, having visited myself many years ago and my own father worked there some considerable time back, so I know the country. Alan Wight, 37, of Portsoy, Aberdeenshire, said: "We just thought, we have to go now. We walked very quickly into the desert, not even looking back."
"It has ebbed and flowed, it had got better, but there has always been difficulties there and indeed as we see whether in Mali or indeed Libya, both of which are adjacent to Algeria, there are ongoing problems.
"But I don't think anybody could have anticipated such a horrendous attack that has seen the death, not only of those with a Scottish connection or a UK connection, but people from many, many countries around the world, not least Algeria."
The siege began on 16 January when militants attacked two buses carrying workers to the Algerian plant. They then broke into the facility's living quarters and main installation, seizing hostages.The siege began on 16 January when militants attacked two buses carrying workers to the Algerian plant. They then broke into the facility's living quarters and main installation, seizing hostages.
The Algerian forces began attacking the militants as they tried to move their hostages by car. The siege was finally declared over on Sunday with at least 32 hostage-takers dead and 48 hostages killed.The Algerian forces began attacking the militants as they tried to move their hostages by car. The siege was finally declared over on Sunday with at least 32 hostage-takers dead and 48 hostages killed.
'Liaising with police'
Scotland's Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has said he believes no-one could have anticipated the "horrendous attack" at an Algerian gas plant involving people from Scotland.
He said there had always been "difficulties" in Algeria but no-one could have foreseen what happened.
He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Algeria is a country I know well, having visited myself many years ago. My own father worked there some considerable time back, so I know the country.
"It has ebbed and flowed. It had got better, but there has always been difficulties there and indeed as we see whether in Mali or indeed Libya, both of which are adjacent to Algeria, there are ongoing problems.
"But I don't think anybody could have anticipated such a horrendous attack that has seen the death, not only of those with a Scottish connection or a UK connection, but people from many, many countries around the world, not least Algeria."
Mr MacAskill praised the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FoC) for liaising closely with Scottish officials.Mr MacAskill praised the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FoC) for liaising closely with Scottish officials.
He said: "The first minister spoke to the prime minister on the very first day and since then I have had daily contact with Alistair Burt from the FoC and indeed officers from Strathclyde Police have been liaising with police and FoC officials in London.He said: "The first minister spoke to the prime minister on the very first day and since then I have had daily contact with Alistair Burt from the FoC and indeed officers from Strathclyde Police have been liaising with police and FoC officials in London.
"So, as much information as could have been given has been given and I am extremely grateful on a personal basis to Alistair Burt for his courtesy.""So, as much information as could have been given has been given and I am extremely grateful on a personal basis to Alistair Burt for his courtesy."
Mr MacAskill said it was not the right time to comment on how the Algerian authorities had handled the crisis.Mr MacAskill said it was not the right time to comment on how the Algerian authorities had handled the crisis.
He added: "We need to review the situation and clearly any action that has to be taken should be taken on an international basis."He added: "We need to review the situation and clearly any action that has to be taken should be taken on an international basis."
'Very relieved'
Iain Strachan, 38, from Howwood in Renfrewshire, was among 100 foreign workers freed from terrorists who attacked the BP plant on Thursday.
Twenty-two British survivors have been flown back to the UK and reunited with their families.
Mr Strachan is one of eight Scottish people to have escaped.
Speaking on Algerian television, he said he was "very relieved to be out".
He said: "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."