Al Qaeda Takes Americans Hostage in Attack on Algerian BP Gas Facility

Al Qaeda operatives have attacked a natural gas facility operated by British Petroleum in Southern Algeria.

A militant group has taken responsibility for the attack and claims it was retaliation for France’s operations against Malian rebels linked to Al Qaeda in southeast Algeria.

Two were killed and others were taken hostage. Reports on the number of hostages vary widely. The militants themselves claim to have taken 41 hostages, but Algerian forces claim the number is closer to 20. 

The U.S. State Dept has given no clue as to how many Americans may be among the hostages. They simply confirm that Americans are being held.

Presently, Algerian forces have the facility surrounded and Algerian Interior Minister Daho Ould Kablia is making it clear that negotiation is not an option: “Algeria will not respond to terrorist demands and rejects all negotiations.”