British Foreign Secretary William Hague has denounced the “cold-blooded murder” of a British national at a gas field in Algeria.
Hague considered the Algeria siege as a “dangerous and rapidly developing situation”, and said what happened was a “tragedy”.
“The Government’s Cobra emergency system is in full operation. I have spoken to our ambassador in Algeria and dispatched a rapid deployment team to Algeria to strengthen our embassy there and help them in their work,” Hague said.
Citing local officials, Algeria’s official APS news agency said on Wednesday morning that “a British national, died in the terrorist attack carried out early in Tigantourine”.
The British national was reported to be caught up with as many as 40 BP workers in Algeria, in a revenge attack by al-Qaeda-linked insurgents.
Qaeda insurgents have claimed the attack is in revenge for Algeria’s support of France’s military intervention in Mali, media reports said.
France initiated military action in Mali on January 12, allegedly to halt the advance of the rebels who control northern part of the West African nation.
According to the recent reports, a number of hostages could escape the militants who took them captive in eastern Algeria.
MOS/SSM/HE
