Developing: Pakistani Plane Escorted by UK Fighter Jets — 2 Men Arrested

Doc Thompson’s 24-hour radio marathon, ‘#24forok,’ continues until 9 am ET — Listen Live!

World

7 Americans Reportedly Taken Hostage in Algeria by Islamic Militants Named ‘Those Who Signed in Blood’

Jan. 16, 2013 12:36pm Tiffany Gabbay

Those Who Signed in Blood: 7 Americans Reportedly Taken Hostage in Algeria

BP gas field. Photo credit: AP

The carnage in Mali is spreading rapidly as Islamist militants seized a natural gas field partly owned by BP in bordering Algeria Wednesay, killing two and reportedly taking an additional 41 hostage, including seven Americans.

The Katibat Moulathamine, or “Masked Brigade,” has claimed credit for the attack through one of its subsidiaries, a group dramatically dubbed “Those Who Signed in Blood.” It said the onslaught was retribution for Algeria’s support of France’s recent and ongoing operation against Al Qaeda-linked Malian insurgents.

AP reports that the attack began with the ambush of a bus carrying employees from the gas plant to a nearby airport. Although the attackers were thwarted, the terrorists regrouped, heading the complex’s living quarters where they eventually took their hostages.

“After their failed attempt, the terrorist group headed to the complex’s living quarters and took a number of workers with foreign nationalities hostage,” said a statement from the Algerian government.

In a statement of its own, BP said the gas field was “attacked and occupied by a group of unidentified armed people,” and that members of its personnel are believed to be “held by the occupiers.”

While the number and identities of the hostages remains unclear, it is reported that they comprise at least ten different nationalities. According to the AP, Ireland just announced that a 36-year-old married Irish man was among those kidnapped, while Japan and Britain said their citizens have been taken as well. A Norwegian woman said that her husband called to tell her he had been taken hostage.

One of the two hostages killed is confirmed to have been British while the identity of the other casualty remains unknown. U.S. officials claim they do not believe that any American has been killed in the attack.

BP’s natural gas field, which is jointly operated with Norway’s Statoil and the Algerian state oil company, Sonatrach, is more than 600 miles from the Mali border, and just 60 miles from Libya’s deserts. A Japanese company, JGC Corp, provides services for the outpost as well, according to AP.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said the kidnapped foreigners likely include Japanese employees of JGC.

“We are certain that JGC is the one affected,” Suga said, adding that the government is now negotiating with local officials through diplomatic channels, asking to protect the lives of the Japanese nationals.

AP reports that Algerian forces surrounded the militants and were negotiating for the release of the hostages, but no additional information has been revealed.

Over the weekend French President Francois Hollande launched a surprise series of air strikes in his country’s former West African colony, hoping to tamp down al Qaeda-linked insurgents in the region.

Algeria has been leery of escalated military action against Mali insurgents fearing this very type of vengeance would ensue. Despite Algeria’s strained relationship with France due to a long history of colonialism, the North African country supports France in its efforts to purge the region of Islamic militants.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (40)

chicago76
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 6:03pm
France started the Vietnam war and dragged us into it because they got their azzes kicked. Either you kick their azzes so bad that, like Japan, they have no more interest in combat or you drive them out of the country, That is the only way to deal with tribal cultures. It is the only thing they understand.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- ChiefGeorge
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 6:11pm
  Its not really that they understand, but if you did use brut force they indeed would understand. Thats human nature.
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 9:16pm
  How could this happen? obama took an official victory lap after the death of Usama. Al Qaeda was a spent force said the obama Regime.
  
  “More than two years ago, al Qaeda central decided to exercise more control over AQIM’s hostage-taking operations.”
  
  http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/01/analysis_al_qaeda_ce.php#ixzz2IHyj0Xjv
  
  Report this comment
chicago76
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 5:58pm
I wonder where these muslim extremists got their guns from? The Great One gun running around the world. Giving away automatic weapons to whoever wants them. However, here he wants to disarm the people.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
TH30PH1LUS
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:43pm
Islam is a totalitarian death cult.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- pdw
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:55pm
  They must not be black after all they say who cares of they are white?
  
  Report this comment
aproudinfidel
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:18pm
Well, now we’ll see if seven civilian hostages are worth more than an ambassador and two Navy Seal heroes. Panetta already confirmed on AP that this was a terrorist attack. He will be getting a spanking from Obama for that.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Gonzo
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:06pm
The French taught the Algerians that these tactics would work 50 years ago.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
BehindTheMouth
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:03pm
This story has to be false. Obluegum himself said that AlQadea is no longer a threat since Bin Laden is dead.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- kat747
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 4:17pm
  And why is the press using the term “islamic” when that man from the Islami-American Group is trying to make the word “islamic” a nice, protected class word ?
  (which will NEVER happen, by the way !)
  
  Report this comment
zoro51
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 3:00pm
MURDERING MUSLUMS when will we EXTERMINATE THEM ALL rid the world of thier BS.. in a MAN MADE CULT OF HATE N DEATH nothing reguarding A life or ANY life but to be BLOOD LUSTED.. more PROOF of MURDERING MUSLUMS.. BULLYING

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
iamnotu
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:53pm
And I care about idiots that go to work at these places WHY? Oh well, just 40 more morons I never knew and don’t care about.

Instead of bothering everyone with stuff we don’t care about they should just start a tally board and keep growing the number of idiots that get killed, kidnapped or whatever in these GOD forsaken places.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Agent P
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:37pm
I really don’t think this has anything to do with the French, Mali, or any international support thereof. I am sure in the coming days, the demand for the Blind Sheik will be issued in exchange for the hostages. This is what they intended in Benghazi, but they screwed it up. Now they try again in Algeria, and no one would notice the similarities. I am also curious as to how the re-invented Africom still does not have a quick response team “in the area”.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
crystalsky
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:21pm
Tell me again why They don’t want the 2nd amendment and the constitution in this country anymore but want everything run by internationally run thugs. (((Universal)))????

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
term limits for congress
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:58pm
France has a problem with al Qaeda? Since when?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Walkabout
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 9:18pm
  ANSWER
  
  Two months later, in January 2011, bin Laden released an audio message addressed to the French people. “President Nicolas Sarkozy’s refusal to remove his forces from Afghanistan is nothing but a green light for killing the French hostages,” bin Laden said,
  
  Read more: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/01/analysis_al_qaeda_ce.php#ixzz2II0x0qKL
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:37pm
The Muslims captured infidels for ransom back in the Crusades. Not much advancement in the last 1,000 years ! Maybe Obama needs to talk to them about that ” fundamental transformation” idea….

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Walkabout
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 9:26pm
  “Pirate Coast” Richard Zacks
  
  The Muslims learned well.
  
  Thomas Jefferson & other presidents along with Congress paid ransoms & protection money for the better part of 2 decades.
  
  A particularly Pusillanimous diplomat, Tobias Lear, literally negotiated a peace treaty with the Bashaw of Tripoli to end a war when we had conquered a 3rd of his country & we paid for the privilege of doing so. For less money we could have paid to keep a revolt going & driven him from power.
  
  But the POS known as Tobias Lear snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
  
  We never made it to the shores of Tripoli.We made it to Derne, the 3rd largest city, & held it for weeks all while that effort became unfunded by p_ssycrats.
  
  Report this comment
barber2
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:35pm
Isn’t American better since we have Obama, our internationalist , in the White House ? All of that international ” co-operation” ( which is now so necessary since the Lefty jerks enabled al Qaeda to grow while they dithered about reducing troop numbers and ANNOUNCED our withdrawal date – a simply brilliant military plan !? ) Remember how the Left trashed Bush for his foreign wars ? Am sure that the MSM and the Left will also trash Obama for co-operating with the French here and drawing us in like in Libya ?! No ? Remember Benghazi ….remember the “guns for rebels ?”

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- wethepublicans
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 2:18pm
  who knows though….. obama did lead that team of seals to rescue the sailors from pirates, and to kill bin laden. He’s probably putting his tac gear on right now to go handle this gas field thing.
  
  Report this comment
environmentalandawake
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:34pm
Let’s Review; The Dictator of the US is producing Executive Orders based on Uninformed Underaged non-voting children, he has run our finances into the ground, Romney warned “We the People” of this impending Mali situation, and Wilcow is scared to death if we decide to take our country back and run it the best we can? Anyone with a rudimentary sense of history, and has lived on a budget could easily run things better than these monkeys in DC!!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
yoshik
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:26pm
How about banning their guns you insufferable *****?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RodT82721
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:17pm
I guess someone needs to inform the Al Qaeda folks that they have been wiped out.

They probably have not seen one of Barry’s speeches where he informs all his low information voters how he not only got UBL, he decimated our greatest enemy, the Al Qaeda. They’re done! He won! (He likes to say how he won.)

Of course someone might have made another video. We know it wasn’t the last low life, he’s still incarcerated.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
SpankDaMonkey
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:12pm
.
Too bad ya’ll aren’t kids Obama would ban Black African Terrorist!…..

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
13th Imam
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:08pm
Rumor has it that the kidnappers made signs of guns with their index fingers and the 7 surrendered . Send in the troops with no guns but loaded fingers.

And start protecting Barry’s kids with unloaded fingers.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Detroit paperboy
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:56pm
Welcome black Carter………….

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
PIGSWILLNEVERFLY
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:48pm
PSY – I was just going to say….smells like days of Carter all over again…..what was old is new again. Transformation -

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
spfoam1
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:46pm
The children are already sending Obama letters begging him to take whatever action is necessary to appease his brothers over there.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
RANGER1965
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:46pm
France has a long history of starting things, usually with that famous French mouth; but not having the iron to see it through.
It will be interesting to see if France has the gumption, and the political will at home to do what is necessary to protect it’s interests abroad. I predict that in short order there will be terrorists attacks in France, Islamists that live in France will rise in solidarity with their brothers, and cause an unending tide of trouble, and then the Newspapers will start accusing the French government of being tyrants, warmongers, and bullies to the poor misunderstood Islamists who just want to invade your homeland, turn it over to Sharia Law, and “convert” you to the Muslim faith, and failing that, convert you to a corpse.
What will France do when they realize they are facing an enemy that will not be reasoned with, only respects force, and will do anything to win?

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- Fubared
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:50pm
  Pretty sure Marseilles burning will be visible from the space station. But they do that for the holidays too. Sua Sponte-
  
  Report this comment
- gyro
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:53pm
  vietnam ?
  
  Report this comment
- RANGER1965
  Posted on January 16, 2013 at 1:22pm
  @GYRO
  
  Pretty much, except they won’t hold out that long. The Viet Cong were never anyone’s “Cause Celebre” unlike the Islamics and the “religion of peace”
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 9:16pm
  How could this happen? obama took an official victory lap after the death of Usama. Al Qaeda was a spent force said the obama Regime.
  
  “More than two years ago, al Qaeda central decided to exercise more control over AQIM’s hostage-taking operations.”
  
  http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2013/01/analysis_al_qaeda_ce.php#ixzz2IHyj0Xjv
  
  Report this comment
- Walkabout
  Posted on January 17, 2013 at 9:27pm
  “Pirate Coast” Richard Zacks
  
  The Muslims learned well.
  
  Thomas Jefferson & other presidents along with Congress paid ransoms & protection money for the better part of 2 decades.
  
  A particularly Pusillanimous diplomat, Tobias Lear, literally negotiated a peace treaty with the Bashaw of Tripoli to end a war when we had conquered a 3rd of his country & we paid for the privilege of doing so. For less money we could have paid to keep a revolt going & driven him from power.
  
  But the POS known as Tobias Lear snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
  
  We never made it to the shores of Tripoli.We made it to Derne, the 3rd largest city, & held it for weeks all while that effort became unfunded by p_ssycrats.
  
  Report this comment
raybaker35
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:43pm
And we should all be happy and turn the other cheek right Glenn?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Psychosis
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:41pm
who is the new jimmy carter???????????????

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Fubared
Posted on January 16, 2013 at 12:39pm
Stand down!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.