Players on alert after terror raid on Algeria field

Update: Statoil’s director for international affairs Lars Christian Bacher gives a news conference following the attack in Algeria

REUTERS/SCANPIXREUTERS/SCANPIX

By EOIN O’CINNEIDE London

 17 January 2013 06:37 GMT

Oil companies operating in Algeria are on high alert after a large-scale terrorist attack on a gas field reportedly left two people dead, six injured and up to 41 held hostage.

The assault on facilities on the In Amenas field came as France steps up a military campaign against insurgents in neighbouring Mali.

In Amenas is jointly operated by UK supermajor BP, Statoil of Norway and Algerian state oil company Sonatrach.

British, American, Norwegian, Japanese, French and Irish personnel were reportedly kidnapped by assailants who launched the raid in up to 10 vehicles on the wet gas development field on Wednesday morning.

Heavily-armed assailants travelling in three vehicles had earlier opened fire on a bus carrying Stat­oil workers to the local airport, but this attack…

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