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Libya violence: Foreign oil workers 'kidnapped' Libya violence: Foreign oil workers 'kidnapped'
(35 minutes later)
Nine foreign oil workers have been seized by Islamic State militants in an attack on a Libyan oil field, the Austrian foreign ministry says. Islamic State (IS) militants are said to have kidnapped nine foreign oil workers in a raid in Libya, when they reportedly beheaded eight guards.
The workers - from Austria, the Czech Republic and seven non-EU nationals - were taken alive, the statement said. Four Filipinos, an Austrian, a Bangladeshi, a Czech and a Ghanaian were taken with an unidentified ninth foreigner, Austrian officials say.
The attack on the al-Ghani field about 700km (440 miles) south-east of Tripoli happened on Friday, a Libyan army spokesman has told the BBC. The foreign ministry in Vienna said IS had attacked the al-Ghani oil field.
He said eight guards had been beheaded in the attack. A Libyan army spokesman told the BBC the field 700km (440 miles) south-east of Tripoli had been attacked on Friday.
One other oil worker died of a heart attack after witnessing the beheadings, he added. One oil worker died of a heart attack after seeing the beheadings, he added.
The foreigners worked for the oilfield management company Value Added Oilfield Services (VAOS). The foreigners were working for oilfield management company Value Added Oilfield Services (VAOS) at the field.
"None of our employees have died or were physically harmed in the attack," VAOS said in a statement. VAOS said it did not know which militants had carried out the attack or where the oil workers had been taken.
"We do not yet know which militia is responsible for this act and where the group has been taken to," it adds. It insisted that none of its employees had "died or were physically harmed in the attack".
Authorities in the Philippines confirmed that four of the workers were their nationals, bringing the number of Filipinos missing in Libya to seven. Confirming that four of the missing workers were their nationals, the Philippines said it brought to seven the number of Filipinos now missing in Libya.
The group also includes workers from Austria, the Czech Republic, Bangladesh and Ghana with the nationality of one worker unknown. 'Burn, destroy and steal'
The militants' long-term aim was to take over Libya's oil industry, Libyan army spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari said, referring to a series of attacks in recent weeks. A spokesman for Libya's National Oil Corporation, Mohamed Al-Harari, told the BBC he could not confirm the abduction of foreign oil workers.
However, he added that local oil workers at the field had been held for two hours before being released.
"These oil workers have said that the gunmen kidnapped a number of foreigners," he said.
Libyan army spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari told the BBC he had "no information or verified reports" about the missing foreigners.
Speaking after a string of attacks on fields in recent weeks, he said militants aimed to do maximum damage.
"The attackers don't want to control the oil fields, that's not their aim - it seems their aim is to burn, destroy and steal whatever they can," he told BBC News.
After burning the biggest oil storage tank in the al-Ghani field, they headed for another oil field, al-Zoueitina, but were repelled, he added.
Last week, Islamist militants were reported to be behind an attack on two oil fields in Bahi and Mabruk.Last week, Islamist militants were reported to be behind an attack on two oil fields in Bahi and Mabruk.
Rival militias have been fighting for control in Libya since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011.Rival militias have been fighting for control in Libya since Muammar Gaddafi was ousted in 2011.