Algeria: terrorist attack kills and kidnaps oil workers in Illizi

An armed group attacked a British Petroleum site in Tiguentourine in the province of Illizi (south of Algiers) on Wednesday killing two workers and injuring seven others. Sources say three Japanese, an Irishman and a French national were kidnapped.

The terrorists were on 14 Land Rover cars carrying Malian and Libyan identification numbers. They threatened to blow up the oil field if security forces intervened.

Algerian workers were allowed to contact their families on the phone. The national defense ministry backed up the army and the National Gendarmerie which entered in clashes with the terrorists. A helicopter was used to identify the number of attackers. Echorouk has learnt.

Interior ministry: one killed, six wounded and others kidnapped

The Algerian interior minister said a foreign national was killed and six others were wounded in a terrorist attack on Sonatrach’s oil field in Illizi.

“An armed terrorist group on three cars attacked Sonatrach’s oil field in Tiguentourine next to Ain Amennass, about 100 km from Algerian Libyan borders on Wednesday at around 5 am,” said the ministry in a release.

“The attack targeted first a bus carrying foreigners to the airport of Ain Amennass. A man was killed and six others were wounded: two foreigners, two gendarmes and a security agent,” it added.

“People inside the bus including wounded victims arrived to Ain Amennass and were taken to hospital by local authorities.”

“After this unsuccessful attempt, the terrorist group went to the workers’ camp, attacked a part of it and kidnapped an undetermined number of workers including foreign nationals.”

“The Popular National Army and security forces arrived to the oil field and immediately tool all necessary measures to ensure the safety of the area and find a quick solution. Authorities continue following up closely the situation,” said the release.

Signers in Blood claim responsibility for the attack

This came as press officer at the Signers in Blood group led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar alias Khaled Abu Abbas said armed men took control of BP’s facility.

They also said they “seized 41 foreign nationals including seven Americans, a Frenchman, two Britons and a Japanese national.”

They added that “five hostages are in the factory and 36 are in the housing compound.”

According to the armed group, Algerian workers were not targeted and the attack came to take revenge from Algeria for opening its air domain to French warplanes.

Sonatrach stops gas injection fearing of terrorist explosions

Sources say Algeria’s energy company Sonatrach stopped injecting gas from the Hassi Messaoud-based main group. It feared possible bombs with terrorists who are inside the oil field.

It is said terrorists may plan to blow up the whole site which is located 45 km only from Illizi.

Civil Protection adopts join security plan with companies

Civil Protection chief in Hassi Messaoud Nadjib Khedim told Echorouk the department established a plan for joint cooperation with oil companies. Security agents are ready for any operation.

Sonatrach forms crisis cell

Sonatrach set up a crisis cell to examine ways to deal with the situation. The commission includes oil experts, engineers and army and National Gendarmerie senior officials. The prefect formed a provincial cell to observe the operations and collect information.