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| UK inquest into Algerian gas plant deaths hears family tributes | UK inquest into Algerian gas plant deaths hears family tributes |
| (8 months later) | |
| The bodies of seven British hostages killed in Algeria by militants linked to al-Qaida last year could be identified only by DNA samples and dental records, the inquest into the deaths has heard. | The bodies of seven British hostages killed in Algeria by militants linked to al-Qaida last year could be identified only by DNA samples and dental records, the inquest into the deaths has heard. |
| Relatives of the men who died at the In Amenas gas plant opened the hearing with personal tributes and demands to know why there had not been better security at what was described as the only unarmed site in Algeria. | Relatives of the men who died at the In Amenas gas plant opened the hearing with personal tributes and demands to know why there had not been better security at what was described as the only unarmed site in Algeria. |
| The men – six UK passport holders and a UK resident – were among 40 hostages killed by jihadi insurgents from the Sahara during a four-day standoff in January 2013 at the In Amenas complex, which was operated jointly by BP, the Algerian state company Sonatrach and the Norwegian firm Statoil. | |
| The coroner, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, described them as "wholly innocent" victims, on the first day of the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The case is expected to last six weeks. | The coroner, Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, described them as "wholly innocent" victims, on the first day of the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The case is expected to last six weeks. |
| Hilliard asked for silence as he read out the names of all 40 of the victims. Carson Bilsland and Kenneth Whiteside, both from Scotland; Sebastian John, from the East Midlands; Stephen Green, from Hampshire; Paul Morgan and Garry Barlow, both from Liverpool, and Carlos Estrada, originally from Colombia but who lived in London, were among those killed while working at the plant. | Hilliard asked for silence as he read out the names of all 40 of the victims. Carson Bilsland and Kenneth Whiteside, both from Scotland; Sebastian John, from the East Midlands; Stephen Green, from Hampshire; Paul Morgan and Garry Barlow, both from Liverpool, and Carlos Estrada, originally from Colombia but who lived in London, were among those killed while working at the plant. |
| Images of the men were shown on a screen as family and friends told the inquest about their lives and the impact of their deaths. The men died over the course of four days' fighting at the site. Their bodies were eventually repatriated to Britain after they had been identified by DNA or dental records. | Images of the men were shown on a screen as family and friends told the inquest about their lives and the impact of their deaths. The men died over the course of four days' fighting at the site. Their bodies were eventually repatriated to Britain after they had been identified by DNA or dental records. |
| The relatives of Green, a health and safety executive from Fleet who was 47 when he was killed, said their lives had been turned upside down. Green's father, David, said: "Stephen's death has been very hard for us. He had a lot of happiness to look forward to. I feel both grief and anger – grief that my son was refused a happy future and anger against those responsible. They are not forgiven or understood." | The relatives of Green, a health and safety executive from Fleet who was 47 when he was killed, said their lives had been turned upside down. Green's father, David, said: "Stephen's death has been very hard for us. He had a lot of happiness to look forward to. I feel both grief and anger – grief that my son was refused a happy future and anger against those responsible. They are not forgiven or understood." |
| Hilliard told the inquest: "Each was wholly innocent of events which unfolded when a group of heavily armed men 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." | Hilliard told the inquest: "Each was wholly innocent of events which unfolded when a group of heavily armed men 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." |
| John's widow, Nicola, said: "I want to understand how he died, in particular so that I can explain to my son when he's old enough to know. I also question the [use of] such a risky location … to send a young, inexperienced guy without any process of consultation. Sebastian and I thought we would spend the whole of the rest of our lives together." | John's widow, Nicola, said: "I want to understand how he died, in particular so that I can explain to my son when he's old enough to know. I also question the [use of] such a risky location … to send a young, inexperienced guy without any process of consultation. Sebastian and I thought we would spend the whole of the rest of our lives together." |
| Lorraine Barlow said her husband should have been celebrating his 50th birthday the day the attack began. "It has ripped my children's innocence to shreds. It hurts me so much that I was not able to say goodbye." | Lorraine Barlow said her husband should have been celebrating his 50th birthday the day the attack began. "It has ripped my children's innocence to shreds. It hurts me so much that I was not able to say goodbye." |
| • This article was amended on 17 September 2014. The original incorrectly stated that the In Amenas plant was run by BP. It was actually operated jointly by BP, the Algerian state company Sonatrach and the Norwegian firm Statoil. | • This article was amended on 17 September 2014. The original incorrectly stated that the In Amenas plant was run by BP. It was actually operated jointly by BP, the Algerian state company Sonatrach and the Norwegian firm Statoil. |