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In Amenas hostage crisis

In Amenas hostage crisis
LocationWest of In Amenas, Algeria
Coordinates27°53′49″N 09°07′37″E / 27.89694°N 9.12694°E / 27.89694; 9.12694
Date16 January 2013 (2013-01-16)–19 January 2013 (2013-01-19) (CET – UTC +1)
TargetInternational natural gas plant workers
Attack type
Ambush, siege, hostage crisis
Weapons
Deaths67 (37 foreign hostages, an Algerian security guard and 29 terrorists)[1][2][3]
InjuredUnknown
PerpetratorsAl-Mourabitoun jihadists
MotiveOpposition against Operation Serval

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.[4] One of Belmokhtar's senior lieutenants, Abdul al Nigeri, led the attack[5] and was among the terrorists killed.[6] After four days, the Algerian special forces raided the site, in an effort to free the hostages.[7]

At least 39 foreign hostages were killed along with an Algerian security guard, although the true figure is not known, as were 29 terrorists.[8] A total of 685 Algerian workers and 107 foreigners were freed.[1][9] Three terrorists were captured.[8]

It was one of many attacks in the Maghreb carried out by Islamist groups since 2002. There is evidence that the threat was increasing prior to this incident.[10] There is also evidence of a direct threat to expat workers.[11]

  1. ^ a b Laura Smith-Spark; Joe Sterling (19 January 2013). "Bloody Algeria hostage crisis ends after 'final' assault, officials say". CNN. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  2. ^ Lamine Chikhi (20 January 2013). "Algeria hostage crisis death toll hits 80, could rise further". Reuters. Retrieved 20 January 2013.
  3. ^ "Algeria hostage crisis: Japan confirms two more deaths". BBC. 23 January 2013. Retrieved 25 January 2013.
  4. ^ "Amenas Hostage Crisis: Oil Workers 'Killed' in Algeria Air Strikes". Rigzone. 17 January 2013.
  5. ^ Nigerien jihadist identified as commander of Algerian hostage operation
  6. ^ "Algeria hostage crisis over after further casualties". The Guardian. 20 January 2013. Archived from the original on 17 May 2023.
  7. ^ "Thirty hostages reported killed in Algeria assault". Reuters. 17 January 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Algeria details the deaths at In Amenas siege". Euronews. 21 January 2013. Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Algeria siege: 37 foreigners died, PM says". BBC. 21 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  10. ^ In Amenas inquest hears of increasing threats to British expats in North Africa. The Guardian. 17 September 2014
  11. ^ "Algeria gas plant bosses were ‘warned of bloodshed' before the attack". The Telegraph. 16 September 2014 (paywall)

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أزمة الرهائن بعين أميناس Arabic In Aménas-gidseldramaet 2013 Danish Geiselnahme von In Aménas German Crisis de los rehenes en In Amenas Spanish In Amenase pantvangikriis ET In Amenasko bahituen krisia EU In Aménasin panttivankikriisi Finnish Prise d'otages d'In Amenas French משבר בני הערובה באתר הגז עין אמנאס HE Krisis sandera In Aménas ID

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