By Alastair Jamieson, NBC NewsWestern hostages being held by Islamist militants at a gas plant in Algeria were feared to have been killed with reports of several casualties from a raid by Algerian forces Thursday. (http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/130117-algeria-facility-4a.380;380;7;70;0.jpg)Kjetil Alsvik / Statoil via AFP - Getty Images, fileThe gas plant near In Amenas, Algeria.An “ongoing operation” was under way at the remote desert facility where dozens of workers – including three Americans – were being held, Britain’s Foreign Office said. It gave no further details.
Unconfirmed reports from local sources cited by Reuters and The Associated Press said hostages and militants had been killed in the operation.
Earlier, some of those being held reportedly escaped from the plant, near In Amenas, close to the Libya border.
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