Militants who attacked a natural gas facility in eastern Algeria took as many as 40 people hostage, including three Americans as retaliation for France's intervention in neighboring Mali. NBC's Rohit Kachroo reports.By Kari Huus, Staff writer, NBC NewsThree Americans were among dozens of foreign nationals kidnapped by heavily armed militants who attacked a gas field in Algeria on Wednesday, U.S. officials said.
Follow @NBCNewsWorld (https://twitter.com/NBCNewsWorld) A militant group claimed the raid was launched in retaliation for France's military intervention in neighboring Mali, Reuters reporting, citing media reports in the region.
The hostage situation, described as a "terrorist attack" by department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland, was unfolding at a gas operation in Amenas — a joint venture including oil giant BP, the Norwegian oil firm Statoil and the Algerian state company Sonatrach.
BP said in a statement that the site was "attacked and occupied by a group of unidentified armed people."
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