In Amenas Gas Plant Stand-Off

[Sylar]

I've been following this in quite some detail as my wife's father works in NDT and is scheduled to be going out to Algeria (Hassi Messaoud) tomorrow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21063370

According to reports, one Britain has already been killed and 5 Scots are amongst those who were being held.

Worryingly, reports on Twitter suggest that an Algerian forces helicopter attack has resulted in the death of the kidknappers and 35 hostages.

http://news.yahoo.com/militants-algerian-copter-attack-kills-132102555.html

[Westie1875]

Saying on the news now that there is bad news to come on this. Not looking promising.

[Hibrandenburg]

Know there are a few Hibbies working out in Africa. Hope to hell they're ok.

[Sergio sledge]

I'm meant to be going to Hassi Messaoud in a few months and my wife is freaking out at the minute, understandably. Hope the news isn't as bad as is feared, a terrible situation.

[lyonhibs]

Papers this morning in Switzerland saying it has gone grotesquely tits up and something like 35 hostages were killed.

Awful, awful news if true

[Sylar]

I'm meant to be going to Hassi Messaoud in a few months and my wife is freaking out at the minute, understandably. Hope the news isn't as bad as is feared, a terrible situation.

We're all hoping my father-in-law doesn't go out to Hassi Messaoud and it's looking unlikely as the UK, Spanish and Norwegians have advised their oil/gas workers to leave Algeria.

The 35 hostages killed was conjecture to a degree yesterday but it seems to be gathering pace sadly.

[hibsbollah]

Looks like we're in for another round of 'war without end' :rolleyes:

http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/20/algerian-hostage-crisis-terrorism

[LeighLoyal]

Just another week of global Islamism (Insane-ism). 23 innocent guys summarily executed. Cameron telling us we have a decades long struggle ahead.

[CropleyWasGod]

The truth about this will no doubt emerge....maybe.

However, there is ambiguity in some of the reports. The group who have claimed to be behind it say that it was in response to the French involvement in Mali. However, there are also those who say that the raid was remarkably well planned, and was probably planned some time ago..... the French only decided last week to go in to Mali.

Throw into that the fact that the sitting government in Mali is there as the result of a military coup, and you have a very complicated situation.

International politics, eh? :rolleyes:

[hibsbollah]

The truth about this will no doubt emerge....maybe.

However, there is ambiguity in some of the reports. The group who have claimed to be behind it say that it was in response to the French involvement in Mali. However, there are also those who say that the raid was remarkably well planned, and was probably planned some time ago..... the French only decided last week to go in to Mali.

Throw into that the fact that the sitting government in Mali is there as the result of a military coup, and you have a very complicated situation.

International politics, eh? :rolleyes:


Not to mention a large number of the rebel fighters involved are Tuareg nomads and black africans who fought for Gaddafi and were kicked out of Libya after the counter revolution. Endless war.

[RyeSloan]

Not to mention a large number of the rebel fighters involved are Tuareg nomads and black africans who fought for Gaddafi and were kicked out of Libya after the counter revolution. Endless war.

Tuareg have turned against the Islamists though and were planned to 'assist' the west African force approved by the UN.

It's interesting to see how the weapons supplied to Libyan rebels have resurfaced so quickly...the Islamist forces are reputed to be surprisingly well equipped.

France have been somewhat forced here with the recent military advances by the Islamist forces. Could be a tricky one to extract themselves from now that they are there.

[Sylar]

The truth about this will no doubt emerge....maybe.

However, there is ambiguity in some of the reports. The group who have claimed to be behind it say that it was in response to the French involvement in Mali. However, there are also those who say that the raid was remarkably well planned, and was probably planned some time ago..... the French only decided last week to go in to Mali.

Throw into that the fact that the sitting government in Mali is there as the result of a military coup, and you have a very complicated situation.

International politics, eh? :rolleyes:

My father-in-law spoke to one of his colleagues who was out there but freed and there's a few things which have yet to be widely reported.

Apparently, the terror group behind the attack had substantial inside help from security and plant workers. There's also suggestion that some of those working inside the plant were members of the group and had stashed devices and weapons within the plant weeks ago.

I notice Reuters have picked up on this story a little but it's not being reported in wider circles yet. There are a few other details which will undoubtedly emerge and will, without doubt, enrage a lot of people!

[CropleyWasGod]

My father-in-law spoke to one of his colleagues who was out there but freed and there's a few things which have yet to be widely reported.

Apparently, the terror group behind the attack had substantial inside help from security and plant workers. There's also suggestion that some of those working inside the plant were members of the group and had stashed devices and weapons within the plant weeks ago.

I notice Reuters have picked up on this story a little but it's not being reported in wider circles yet. There are a few other details which will undoubtedly emerge and will, without doubt, enrage a lot of people!

That ties in with what I'd been reading.

The French move into Mali was probably coincidental, but it provided the attackers with a perfect "justification".

[(((Fergus)))]

My father-in-law spoke to one of his colleagues who was out there but freed and there's a few things which have yet to be widely reported.

Apparently, the terror group behind the attack had substantial inside help from security and plant workers. There's also suggestion that some of those working inside the plant were members of the group and had stashed devices and weapons within the plant weeks ago.

I notice Reuters have picked up on this story a little but it's not being reported in wider circles yet. There are a few other details which will undoubtedly emerge and will, without doubt, enrage a lot of people!

That is the sort of "green-on-blue" information that might cause further panic and disruption in the industry ("Who can you trust?")

[Betty Boop]

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33661.htm

[Sylar]

That is the sort of "green-on-blue" information that might cause further panic and disruption in the industry ("Who can you trust?")

:agree:

I only shared that as I noticed it had at least made mainstream media to a degree (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/18/us-sahara-crisis-raid-idUSBRE90H1DE20130118) but I'd agree that it'll create some trepidation and panic.

Not to mention likely paranoia and prejudice of any locals who continue to be employed in these facilities.

[hibsbollah]

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article33661.htm

Good article by Fisk there. The Algerian dirty war cost literally tens of thousands of lives but seemed to be largely ignored by the media. If youre looking at bloodthirsty regimes Algeria is about at the top of any list. 'Terrorism' on a state scale.