Two killed, seven kidnapped in attack on BP installations in Algeria

At least two people, including a French national, have been killed and seven foreigners kidnapped in an attack conducted by militants fighting in Mali on a gas filed run by the oil giant British Petroleum (BP) in Algeria.

Local officials reported that the attack took place on Wednesday as a number of militants launched a deadly attack on the gas filed in the town of In Amenas, located in the Sahara Desert in southern Algeria, near the Libyan border.

The oil field is jointly operated by BP, Norwegian oil company, Statoil, and Algerian state company, Sonatrach.

Reports further said that five Japanese nationals, working for the engineering organization JCG Corp., an Irish man, and a French national have been also kidnapped by the militants who launched the attack.

Local sources said that at least seven people have been injured in the incident.

The militants fighting in northern Mali have claimed responsibility for the attack.

Algerian security forces have reportedly launched an operation to rescue the hostages and also surrounded the gas field workers’ camp near the scene of violence.

Earlier in the day, French troops conducted their first ground attack against rebel forces fighting in the West African country of Mali.

On January 13, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said Algeria has authorized Paris to use its airspace to conduct bombing strikes on northern Mali.

Fabius also expressed hope that Algeria would prevent rebels from escaping from the north of Mali, adding, “We are working with the Algerians…. What we have in mind is that if African troops move into the north of the country, the Algerians will have to close their border.”

On Tuesday, Algeria announced that it had closed its border with Mali following the French offensive against the rebels fighting in Mali.

France initiated its military operation in Mali on January 12 under the pretext of halting the advance of the rebels, who control the northern parts of Mali.

The United States, Canada, Britain, Belgium, Germany, and Denmark have already said they would support the French operation against Mali.

Chaos broke out in the African country after Malian President Amadou Toumani Toure was toppled in a military coup on March 22, 2012.