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Algeria siege inquest: 'Bloodshed threat' before attack | Algeria siege inquest: 'Bloodshed threat' before attack |
(35 minutes later) | |
A worker at a gas plant where British hostages were killed by Islamist militants allegedly threatened managers with "bloodshed" the night before the attack, an inquest has heard. | |
Six British workers were taken hostage and then killed at the In Amenas plant in Algeria in January 2013. | Six British workers were taken hostage and then killed at the In Amenas plant in Algeria in January 2013. |
For months, there had been labour disputes at the plant, the court heard. | For months, there had been labour disputes at the plant, the court heard. |
Deputy general manager Mark Cobb told the inquest no-one had told him of the alleged threat. | Deputy general manager Mark Cobb told the inquest no-one had told him of the alleged threat. |
The apparent threat of violence was made during a dispute with local workers at the site, which is jointly run by BP, Norwegian state oil company Statoil and the Algerian government-owned Sonatrach. | The apparent threat of violence was made during a dispute with local workers at the site, which is jointly run by BP, Norwegian state oil company Statoil and the Algerian government-owned Sonatrach. |
Mr Cobb was asked at the inquest about the meeting - held the night before the attack - between managers and representatives of Algerian drivers, who had gone on strike. | Mr Cobb was asked at the inquest about the meeting - held the night before the attack - between managers and representatives of Algerian drivers, who had gone on strike. |
'Extremely worried' | 'Extremely worried' |
Bridget Dolan, counsel to the coroner, asked him about claims that a translator overheard one of the drivers' representatives say: "You have made your law but tomorrow when you wake up you will have a surprise and there will be bloodshed." | Bridget Dolan, counsel to the coroner, asked him about claims that a translator overheard one of the drivers' representatives say: "You have made your law but tomorrow when you wake up you will have a surprise and there will be bloodshed." |
Mr Cobb replied: "No one translated that for me, nobody told me that comment had been made. | Mr Cobb replied: "No one translated that for me, nobody told me that comment had been made. |
"If I had been made aware of that I would have been extremely worried." | "If I had been made aware of that I would have been extremely worried." |
Early the following morning a group of more than 30 terrorists armed with AK-47-style machine guns, sniper rifles and explosives took over the site and held employees hostage. | Early the following morning a group of more than 30 terrorists armed with AK-47-style machine guns, sniper rifles and explosives took over the site and held employees hostage. |
Forty workers and 29 militants were killed during the siege. | Forty workers and 29 militants were killed during the siege. |
The inquest, being held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is examining the deaths of Stephen Green, 47, from Hampshire; Garry Barlow, 50, from Liverpool; Carson Bilsland, 46, from Perthshire; Sebastian John, 26, from Norfolk; Paul Morgan, 46, from Liverpool and Kenneth Whiteside, 59, from Fife. | The inquest, being held at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, is examining the deaths of Stephen Green, 47, from Hampshire; Garry Barlow, 50, from Liverpool; Carson Bilsland, 46, from Perthshire; Sebastian John, 26, from Norfolk; Paul Morgan, 46, from Liverpool and Kenneth Whiteside, 59, from Fife. |
It 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. |
The attack unfolded over four days, and the workers had explosives attached to them as they were held hostage. | The attack unfolded over four days, and the workers had explosives attached to them as they were held hostage. |
On Monday, the court heard that Carson Bilsland, an inspection engineer, had written to his family complaining about security on the complex. | On Monday, the court heard that Carson Bilsland, an inspection engineer, had written to his family complaining about security on the complex. |
"The job is fine but security is not good and not safe compared to other places I've worked," the letter said. | "The job is fine but security is not good and not safe compared to other places I've worked," the letter said. |
But Mr Cobb denied this, and said the area where In Amenas is located was inside a "ring of steel" controlled by the Algerian military. He said the plant had its own dedicated group of around 160 armed gendarmes in charge of security. | But Mr Cobb denied this, and said the area where In Amenas is located was inside a "ring of steel" controlled by the Algerian military. He said the plant had its own dedicated group of around 160 armed gendarmes in charge of security. |
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