The group demanded an end to the French air strikes against Islamist fighters in neighbouring Mali, and threatened to attack more western facilities in Africa, should their demands not be fulfilled.
The next day, the Algerian military opened fire as the militants tried to escape with their prisoners. The drama ended two days later when Algerian forces managed to gain control and recapture the facility. The results were devastating; approximately 80 people reported to have died – 48 hostages and 32 militants. 8 militants were captured alive.
Some western countries have complained that the Algerian decision to storm the plant and the entire operation were taken and executed while leaving them in the dark.
For BP yet another risk came to play. A completely different one from the disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, but yet another investigation will be made on how prepared for such an event the employees at the facility were.
The BP plant accounts for 10% of Algeria’s gas exports.
The raid has demonstrated several exposures including the vulnerability of multinational oil and gas facilities in an important producing region, and the still very relevant threat from extremist militant groups and their ability to position themselves on the West's security agenda.