What happened in the In Amenas hostage crisis?
The In Amenas hostage crisis began on 16 January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked terrorists affiliated with a brigade led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar took expat hostages at the Tigantourine gas facility near In Amenas, Algeria. One of Belmokhtar’s senior lieutenants, Abdul al Nigeri, led the attack and was among the terrorists killed.
What happened at the In Amenas gas facility?
The In Amenas gas facility was attacked by Islamist terrorists on 16 January 2013. The workers at the facility, including 48 foreign nationals, were taken hostage by the militants as part of the attack. The gas facility was put under seize by the Algerian security forces for four days.
What is the In Amenas project?
In Amenas is the largest wet gas development project in Algeria. The project includes the development of four primary gas fields in the Illizi Basin in south-eastern Algeria and the associated gas processing facility.
What is Gege oil&gas doing at In Amenas?
GE Oil & Gas supplied the gas turbines and auxiliary equipments for the In Amenas gas processing plant under a $70m contract awarded in 2003. The In Amenas facility was brought on stream in June 2006. The gas produced at In Amenas is marketed by Sonatrach.
Were there armed guards at the In Amenas site?
Evidence heard by the inquiry revealed there were no armed guards on the gates of the living quarters, in the compound’s 12 watchtowers or even in the immediate vicinity of the living quarters at the In Amenas site, which was jointly operated by BP, the Algerian state company Sonatrach and the Norwegian company Statoil.
What happened at In Amenas Airport?
Photograph: AFP/Getty Images In the early hours of the morning, a group of militants had first attacked two buses of workers on their way off the site to In Amenas airport. Three foreigners who tried to escape the bus attack were believed to have been shot as they ran through the sand.
What happened to the Algerian hostage-takers?
The hostage-takers, which Algerian officials said included at least three explosives experts, set about strapping Semtex bombs around the necks and waists of some of the hostages. Some survivors said foreigners were shot as they ran to escape.