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In Amenas inquest: Algeria siege deaths hearing begins In Amenas inquest: victim's father says killers 'not forgiven'
(about 1 hour later)
An inquest into the deaths of six British men and a UK resident who were killed during a siege at a gas plant in Algeria last year has heard from the victims' families. The father of a Briton killed in a siege at an Algerian gas plant has not "forgiven or understood" his son's death, an inquest has heard.
The In Amenas plant was stormed by Islamist militants in January 2013. Stephen Green from Fleet in Hampshire, was one of six British workers killed at the In Amenas plant in January 2013. A UK resident also died.
Forty workers and 29 militants were killed during the siege, which ended when Algerian forces regained control. His father David told the hearing, at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, he felt "anger at those responsible".
The father of one of the victims told the inquest in London that he did not forgive his son's killers. Forty workers and 29 militants were killed during the siege.
The Britons killed at In Amenas were Garry Barlow, Carson Bilsland, Stephen Green, Sebastian John, Paul Morgan and Kenneth Whiteside. The inquest is examining the deaths of Garry Barlow, 49, from Liverpool; Carson Bilsland, 46, from Perthshire; Stephen Green, 47, from Hampshire; Sebastian John, 26, from Norfolk; Paul Morgan, 46, from Liverpool and Kenneth Whiteside, 59, from Fife.
The inquest is also examining the death of Carlos Estrada, a Colombian who had moved to London. It is also examining the death of Carlos Estrada, a Colombian who had moved to London.
Mr Green's father, David, said his son's death had changed the lives of his whole family "forever". David Green spoke of his family's pain. "Stephen's death has been very hard for us. He had a lot of happiness to look forward to," he said.
He also said he was still angry at the killers, and that they were "not forgiven or understood". "I feel both grief and anger - grief that my son was refused a happy future, and anger against those responsible.
Mr Green's partner said there was "chaos" in the aftermath of the assault, and that his body had been placed in a mortuary alongside one of the militants. "They are not forgiven or understood."
The victims' relatives gave statements in front of pictures of their loved ones at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. All the victims' relatives gave statements in front of a picture of their loved ones.
Carson Bilsland's younger brother, Christopher, said the engineer had criticised security in the month before his death.
The court heard Mr Bilsland wrote: "The job is fine, but security is not good and not safe compared to other places I've worked."
Nicola John described her husband, Sebastian, as a "lovely, friendly man who was clearly very intelligent".
Opening the inquest, assistant coroner for West Sussex, Nicholas Hilliard QC, said: "Each was wholly innocent of events which unfolded when a group of heavily armed went into the In Amenas gas facility.
"Forty innocent people lost their lives, such was the scale of events.
"Each and every death is a wholly separate tragedy and leaves family and friends devastated and bereft."
Sensitive materialSensitive material
Last week, the inquest's coroner stood down to be replaced by a judge after the government said it might present "sensitive material" as evidence. Last week, the inquest's coroner stood down to be replaced by Judge Hilliard after the government said it might present "sensitive material" as evidence.
In a statement, coroner Penelope Schofield said she had been asked to stand down by the chief coroner after government officials said they "held sensitive material which they considered was possibly relevant to the inquest, and that this material could only be reviewed by a judge".In a statement, coroner Penelope Schofield said she had been asked to stand down by the chief coroner after government officials said they "held sensitive material which they considered was possibly relevant to the inquest, and that this material could only be reviewed by a judge".
She said she initially refused because appointing a judge would have meant a "lengthy adjournment" which would have "devastating effects on the families and witnesses".She said she initially refused because appointing a judge would have meant a "lengthy adjournment" which would have "devastating effects on the families and witnesses".
But she said Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC was now available to hear the case on the listed date, and she had decided it was "in the interests of justice" for the judge to hear the inquest. But she said Judge Hilliard was available to hear the case, and that it was "in the interests of justice" for the judge to hear the inquest.
TimelineTimeline
16 January 2013 Militants attack two buses carrying In Amenas workers, killing two. They then go on to the living quarters and main installation, seizing hostages. Some gas workers manage to escape16 January 2013 Militants attack two buses carrying In Amenas workers, killing two. They then go on to the living quarters and main installation, seizing hostages. Some gas workers manage to escape
17 January Algerian forces attack after the militants try to move their hostages in five 4x4s. Four of the vehicles are destroyed in an air strike and an unknown number of hostages are killed17 January Algerian forces attack after the militants try to move their hostages in five 4x4s. Four of the vehicles are destroyed in an air strike and an unknown number of hostages are killed
18 January Stalemate as Algerian forces surround the gas plant where the remaining hostages are held18 January Stalemate as Algerian forces surround the gas plant where the remaining hostages are held
19 January Algerian forces launch a final assault after reports that the hostage-takers are killing their captives19 January Algerian forces launch a final assault after reports that the hostage-takers are killing their captives
For more information on the British victims, see the In Amenas profiles page.
Army assaultArmy assault
Militants from a group known as the Signed-in-Blood Battalion arrived before dawn on 16 January last year and entered the In Amenas plant, a joint venture run by British company BP, Norway's Statoil and Algerian state company Sonatrach.Militants from a group known as the Signed-in-Blood Battalion arrived before dawn on 16 January last year and entered the In Amenas plant, a joint venture run by British company BP, Norway's Statoil and Algerian state company Sonatrach.
Within 15 minutes they had taken control, killing some some of the plant's 800 workers and taking others - mostly foreigners - hostage.Within 15 minutes they had taken control, killing some some of the plant's 800 workers and taking others - mostly foreigners - hostage.
Algerian forces surrounded the site and, while militants were moving hostages in a convoy, destroyed four vehicles - killing an unknown number of hostages.Algerian forces surrounded the site and, while militants were moving hostages in a convoy, destroyed four vehicles - killing an unknown number of hostages.
The Algerian army finally regained control of the plant with an assault on 19 January.The Algerian army finally regained control of the plant with an assault on 19 January.
The hearing is expected to last until the end of next month.The hearing is expected to last until the end of next month.