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Subscribe to RSSAfter the death of Western workers in an attack on a gas plant in the Sahara, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta vows to hunt down the militants responsible. NBC News' Annabel Roberts reports.
Twenty-three hostages and 32 militants were killed in the attack on a natural gas plant deep in the Sahara, the Algerian interior ministry said on Saturday, according to news services.
The official also said 107 foreign hostages and 685 Algerian hostages had been released, several news outlets reported.
Earlier, British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said, speaking on information received by the British government, that the hostage crisis had "been brought to an end."
The militants took over the In Amenas plant on Wednesday, but Algeria's military launched a rescue attempt on Thursday.
The Algerian Press Service reported that a during a final attack by Algeria's military, the militants killed seven hostages, whose nationalities were not revealed. All of the remaining militants were reported killed.
At a joint press conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, Hammond described the loss of life as "appalling and unacceptable."
"We remain in close contact with the Algerian government," Hammond said. "We remain determined to defeat terrorism and stand with the Algerian government."
Hammond said that the latest Algerian military operation had resulted in further loss of life. "We are pressing the Algerians for details on the exact situation and the numbers that have been killed and, if any, the numbers rescued," he said.
The Associated Press reported that around 100 of the 135 foreign workers on the site had been freed by Friday. The U.S. government confirmed Friday that one of the dead hostages was Frederick Buttaccio from Texas.
The militants claimed Friday that they were holding two American hostages and would exchange them for two people being held in the United States — the blind sheik Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted in the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, and Aafie Siddiqque, a 40-year-old Pakistani neuroscientist and mother of three, who was convicted of attacking U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.
That would appear to account for all five Americans thought to have been at the plant, one U.S. official said, if the militants are telling the truth.
In a statement Saturday, President Barack Obama said: "The blame for this tragedy rests with the terrorists who carried it out ... This attack is another reminder of the threat posed by al Qaeda and other violent extremist groups in North Africa."
In a news release Saturday, British Prime Minister David Cameron said he feared for the lives of five British citizens who remained unaccounted for, Reuters reported.
Anis Belghoul / AP
Two British hostages -- Peter, left, and Alan, right (no family name available) -- are seen after being released, in a street near the gas plant where they were kidnapped by Islamic militants.
"One British citizen has already been killed in this brutal attack and we now fear the worst for the lives of five others who are not yet accounted for," Cameron said, according to Reuters.
British Petroleum said Saturday that four of its employees were among the hostages who remain missing.
In a conference call with reporters, Chief Executive Officer Bob Dudley said 14 of the 18 BP employees who were working at the site are “safe and secure” but four remain missing. Dudley said at this time he could not reveal the identities or nationalities of any of the employees. Dudley said the situation remains “very fluid and complex.”
Based on information from those hostages freed, Dudley said they suffered a “terrible and agonizing ordeal” and the situation inside the facility was “horrific.” Before “pre-judging” the actions taken by Algerian security Dudley said “we need he entire picture.”
The In Amenas plant, in a remote part of the Sahara Desert in eastern Algeria close to the Libyan border, is jointly run by BP, Norway's Statoil and Algeria's state-owned oil company.
The hostage standoff in Algeria is proving frustrating as both media and governments struggle for information. The Washington Post's Joby Warrick discusses the situation with MSNBC's Alex Witt.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Related content:
- 1 American killed, 2 escape in Algeria hostage crisis, US officials say; militants seek to trade 2 others for blind sheik
- Details emerge in militant takeover, rescue operation at Algeria gas field
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Some chicken poop prez we have named obummer. He's hiding right now. Good job obummer! Is this the way we Americans do it. We have a turd for prez in my opinion who will never stand up for the U.S.of A. You people should have voted Romney. Instead we let the Mexicans vote for the turd. Illegals that is. Maybe that when a good Rebub comes up in 2016 like Romney again or possibly Trump We will see alot of changes. More military more welfare cuts and less food stamps given to the bums who don't need food stamps. I know people who receive food stamps that are taking the system for a ride. I will report them too. Illegal Mexicans cross our borders especially women and have babies here. The babies born here become U.S. citizens and the illegal woman gets everything FREEEEEEEEEEEE Why? does our government allow this to happen. That's some of the reason we are hurting. The U.S. should make it where if an illegal woman crosses our borders and has kids the U.S. will no longer give handouts anymore. The baby is also illegal which means the illegal mom and kids will be deported. I think all us Americans should recall the prez obummer and his sidekick vice prez bitter. Kick them both out All that i wrote in this comment is my opinion.
Not Trump,not Paul,maybe Jindahl so we could holler RACIST!!! everytime some @!$%# dissagreed with something he said.
I think we should send the border crosser to defend our country. Gooood Idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To the American family's who lost loved ones. With deepest sympathy God Bless you.
To the families who lost loved ones, regardless of their nationality, my deepest sympathies.
Until these unstable countries get there shet together they will continue to be a breeding ground for terrorists.
How's that Global War On Terror going? What a U.S. tax-payer funded SCAM! Outright thievery of MY money.
Our own U.S. Government is out of control.
save money FIRE a government worker!
It is a tragedy that the innocent had to suffer but we HAVE to handle terrorists this way. If we negotiate EVEN ONCE, there will be a hundred terrorists where there was one. The previous poster was right to compare these guys to the Somali Pirates. These Islamic terrorists wrap themselves in religious piety, but they are just common criminals too. The only other option would be to accept the ransom terms, and use high-tech means to ID each and every terrorist so a year later you can wipe every one of them out.
THE message here is do not F with Algeria, and Do not work in Algeria
The other message here is do not rely on Obama or Hillary, but then she is gone, and you have to rely on Kerry! Yikes!!! and Hagel!!!! yikes and double yikes, and triple yikes.
"The terrorists are responsible for the loss of lives...." Great statement Mr Defense Secretary... Spoken like a true politician...
Someone ask the question... How many were killed by "friendly fire"??
The Algerians probably could not rescue a puppy without killing it...
You trust a Algerian with a 50 cal machine gun to differentiate between a Muslim and a christian!!!! holly guacamole!
I suggest that all patriotic and angry Americans find a mosque in their area and fire bomb it. this much become a war against islam.
"burn mosques for a cleaner future"
Those who think some form of "security force" can prevent actions by terrorists at every potential target are delusional. Yes, some hostages were killed in the action by the Algerian forces and that is a tragedy for the families, but going in after hostage takers is a very difficult task. T.V. would have us all think that if an operation is properly planned and executed, there will be no hostages killed. The real world is a bitter place at times. I am not about to condemn the Algerians.
Hey Jacalac1234 There is a God and his name is Jesus. How do you think you got her along with your mother and her mother and her mother etc etc etc.... All peoples came from God. Don't talk like that about God. Jesus died on a cross and suffered for you. So stop. If you cant say anything good about Jesus, dont comment bub.
God helps those who help themselves.
This is also Just Your Opinion. LOL
You all trust an Algerian with a 50 cal machine gun and rockets to tell the diffeence between a muslim and a christian, holly guacamole, do not work in Algeria unless your crazy.
yes the Algerians gig a fine job, much better than we would have done... Not as good as Israel would have done. But it is finally good to see a way job arab country going after other arabs...
It would be a good plan to shower nuclear hell down on Libya (spread some of that nuc LOVE to egypt too), this is where much of this is coming from.
Mitzy, I say get rid of Israel and the mid-east problem will go away. Israeli's are pathetic murdering thieves.
hahaha, get rid of you and all the other a-rabs a most of the world's problems will go away...
Holly guacamole! obama hates oil field trash, they were producing hydrocarbons!!! he likely told the Algerians go ahead and make my DAY!!! do you really trust a muslim to differentiate between a muslim and a christian!??? OMB, stay out of the Mideast if your a christian, but Obama and Hillary can go because one is a Muslim and the other an atheist.
Whooee, those Algerians are tough. Don't mess with them.
Hillary and Obama have more blood on their hands than son of Sam!
Agreed, lets start with Begazi and go from there
It seems that in every country where radical muslims operate the government knows who the radicals are, but let's them operate, recruit and inflame the population. There would be a lot fewer victims if the governments simply eliminated the radicals before they could cause trouble.
At least they did something, not like the idiot in the White House that did send help when requested by the staff in Begazi and let the Americans there get killed when they might have lived or had a chance of survival if they would have received the help they requested. So they didn't tell the US, Britian or other courties about what they were going to do - it's their country. May be they also realize that if the told the white house the press would have been told, which in turn would have told the world. The us press best spy network in the world. Then there is Panetta stating that "we" will hunt these type of people down. He is just as stupid as obommie, we had nothing to do with the raid. If I was taken captive by some radical group I would at least want somebody to do somethingm other then diplomatic BS
Hmmm? How come Great Britain's Hammond was the only one quoted in the news conference, even though Leon Panetta was present? Perhaps Leon's only job is to crow when Obama (some say it's actually accomplished by our special forces and millitary) takes out a terrorist or two. It's apparent that Panetta and Obama don't want to draw attention to the fact that the Islamic terrorists have gained confidence in attacking us worldwide even though during the election Obama tried to sell to us that he personally had ended the threat of Islam against our country and citizens. Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iran, and the Palestinians are all exploding. Al Qaeda has it's own country in Mali. Obama still has two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Iran and North Korea are building nuclear bombs and delivery systems. And the press and the Nobel committee with a million dollar check told us before the election that Obama was going to bring peace and stability to the entire world because of his vast experience and childlike empathy for Muslims. How disgustingly naive.
khenk, 16 of our intelligence agency's have said Iran is not making a bomb. WHY DO YOU LIE? This is the kind of nonsense that causes the worlds problems. Israel has been saying Iran is building the bomb for 25 years and no matter how many times it's said won't make it become true. Stop this evil propaganda.
Prayers for all those who lost innocent loved ones and the military is to be praised for ending this ordeal. They got the job done and the military of other countries was not pulled into a long drawn out battle. If things just could go this way all the time, we would all sleep better at night.
we created those guys. we invaded their countries.trained them by accent
made them much more smarter.. and now guess what.. they use to be
just in Irqa. but now they are in Afganistan STILL.. AND They are now taking
over 7 more African countries..oops.. way to go to so called west..
WE CREATED BIGGER Enemy.AND we give the FREE AIR TIME DAILY.FREE PLATFORM..OY VAY
Any American working in a dangerous foreign country is being paid very well and should arm himself and be able to protect himself at all times. They all know of the risks they are taking working in a foreign country and they should understand these host countries and their low paid security guards can't protect them. So they should always have a few hidden backup guns or grenades. It's not like its not available for them.
I only trust myself for my protection and I haven't had any problems.
Kuld dair beez anudder video fer dis? Any bodie chek wif Whight Crib?
For all the idiots who always say it is Bush's fault, you need to get a brain. This country has more stupid people than any other in the world. The only thing these terrorists and pirates understand is brute force. Kill as much of them as possible and they will soon get the messag. Just like all the polls say Americans want to see spending cuts but yet the re-elected a moron who continues to spend us into total fiscal disaster.
It is coming and you better get your head out of it! For the liberals who have different brains and fail to get it, they remind us of those who turned their back on the imbecile Hitler who finally took all of their power away so they no longer fight against this moron who almost got away with his radical agenda.
Wake up and see what is happening to your own country but morons in leadership posititions who think it is ok to stomp on your rigjhts. You better wake up and get your head out of it!!