34 hostages killed in Algeria

Death and Taxes

http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/0117/government-release-hostages.html

it is reported that the Algerian Air Force bombed the compound where a large number of forigen hostages, including an Irish passport holder, are being held, killing 34 hostages and 14 kidnappers.
What sort of idiot launches an airstrike against a compund full of hostages!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21063370
"Media reports quoting militants said 34 hostages and at least 14 kidnappers had been killed in the operation.

A local resident told Reuters news agency that there were multiple deaths.

Militants told local media that Algerian forces had opened fire from the air".

newmug

Hopefully its not true. God help those people.

kaimera

Well that escalated quickly.

KilOit

Find this hard to believe, it's said it's quoting the militants. Better of waiting for more official reports before jumping the gun

Franticfrank

The Algerians bombed the compound? If its true, I just can't believe their stupidity.

ITS_A_BADGER

jesus what sort of idiot orders air strikes in a hostage situation ??

Fratton Fred

ITS_A_BADGER wrote: »

jesus what sort of idiot orders air strikes in a hostage situation ??

an air strike in a gas plant.:eek:

My name is URL

That's one way of making it known that no shit will be taken from terrorists

I Heart Internet

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

Media reports quoting militants said 34 hostages and at least 14 kidnappers had been killed in the operation.

There was no official confirmation of any deaths.

Seems the Algerians wanted a quick "solution" to this and they had them surrounded. I hope, once the fog clears, that the initial reports from the terrorists are untrue.

WindSock

Wtf? Kill 'em all and let god sort them out?

Frank Bullitt

2 reports I have heard are they were all rescued, and the other was that they were all killed. Bit of waiting to be clear on this I think.

mike65

guardian live blog

According to Mauritania's ANI news agency, a spokesperson for the kidnappers says that seven western hostages are still alive: three Belgians, two Americans, one Japanese and one Briton.

Death and Taxes

Gintonious wrote: »

2 reports I have heard are they were all rescued, and the other was that they were all killed. Bit of waiting to be clear on this I think.

Only reports I have seen are BBC (Usually accurate), RTE, and, Breaking News.
All are reporting the same thing. If true it is shocking beyond belief!

AEDIC

BBC live update is now reporting this.... tbh reports are different everywhere you look...

'Six foreign hostages and eight militants have been killed in the operation, Reuters reports, quoting a local source. It adds that 180 hostages escaped.'

MadYaker

Christ! I thought they were starting negotiations yesterday? Wtf went wrong???

When were they taken hostage?

mike65

/prods boneyarsebogman with a stick!

mike65

Irishman freed

Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has said the Irishman held hostage in Algeria has made contact with his family and is understood to be safe and freed from captivity, the Press Association reports.

3m ago

Still no certainty on the exact numbers of hostages killed in the Algerian army attack. The BBC quotes APS as saying "several victims" in the raid.

BBC Breaking News

✔

@BBCBreaking

"Several victims" during operation to free hostages from Algeria gas facility - state news agency APS bbc.in/10gJXQh
17 Jan 13

Reply
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4m ago

Le Monde is citing the official Algerian Press Agency APS as saying 600 hostages have now been freed from the In Amenas gas complex by the Algerian army:

Le Monde

✔

@lemondefr

#Algérie #InAmenas 600 otages algériens libérés jeudi par l'armée algérienne, selon l'agence officielle APS lemde.fr/W20owz

europa11

AJELive @AJELive
Irish foreign ministry says an Irish man has been freed in #Algeria hostage drama aje.me/W2jXF9
2 minutes ago

Also Al Jazeera reporting 35 hostages and 15 of their kidnappers dead - however numbers unconfirmed.

Killer Wench

MadYaker wrote: »

Christ! I thought they were starting negotiations yesterday? Wtf went wrong???

Obviously they negotiated whether to come in with guns blazing or dropping a gazillion bombs. They politely offered the terrorists a choice.

goose2005

MadYaker wrote: »

Christ! I thought they were starting negotiations yesterday? Wtf went wrong???

Maybe that was to lower their guard, get them thinking about terms, then bam! the old fork in the eye.

Thrill

Sky News Newsdesk ‏@SkyNewsBreak

Sky Sources: a large explosion heard at Algeria gas complex, away from
accommodation block


Sounds a bit mad over there at the moment.

BillyMitchel

French and Mali troops in ground battle with the Islamic terrorists.

That's BBCs latest headline, still not sure about the hostage situation.

Rented Mule

ITS_A_BADGER wrote: »

jesus what sort of idiot orders air strikes in a hostage situation ??

Algerian idiots ...according to the article.

Stev_o

Damned if you damned if you don't. Either way this was going to end with deaths. It's not like the militants were going to give themselves and the hostages up anyway. Just imagine the chaos in the coming days when the international media descended on the site. Guess it ll be a while before we hear the full story but at least the Irish man got out alive.

Mint Sauce

RTE are suggesting that Stephan McFaul (the irish hostage involved) escaped during the raid.

Still a crazy course of action to be taken by the Algerians, must have been a huge escalation to provoke them into that.