Around 32 “terrorists,” who were behind the Algerian hostage crisis, hailed from northern Mali, Algeria’s Prime Minister Abdumalik Salal told reporters in a press conference on Monday.
The purpose of the operation by the 32-member al-Qaeda-linked group was to embolden their negotiation clout and that’s by increasing the number of the hostages under their control as they already have a number of captives in Mali, Salal said.
The terrorist group initially intended to hijack a bus carrying oil and gas workers in the Algerian desert that also had a manager from the British oil and gas company, BP.
“The Algerian army was successful and professional in not allowing the militants to take the hostages to Mali,” he added.
In another operation, the militants wanted to detonate a gas compound on Friday but the Algerian Special Forces were “professional” in preventing the disaster from happening.
The death toll according to Salal was 37 hostages who were killed by the militants. The victims came from eight countries; however, the identity of seven slain hostages couldn’t be identified.
The whereabouts of five hostages are still unknown, he said.
Meanwhile, a Canadian national, named Shadad, was among the militants who kidnapped the foreign workers.
According to Reuters, Canada is seeking more details on reports that a Canadian was involved in the Algerian hostage-taking, the foreign affairs department said on Monday.
The Qaeda-linked militants, who were angry at French intervention in Mali, wanted to send a clear message: they could strike anywhere in the Sahara including terrorizing hundreds of foreigners from different backgrounds in Algeria.

Terrorists behind the Algerian hostage crisis were from Mali PM

Algeria’s Prime Minister Abdumalik Salal said a 32-member Al-Qaeda-linked group, who were behind the hostage crisis in Algeria, were from Mali. (Al Arabiya)
Al Arabiya with agencies
Monday 21 January 2013
Last Update: Saturday, 02 March 2013 KSA 12:54 - GMT 09:54
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