Islamist Militants Take Hostages in Algeria Natural Gas Facility

Islamist militants on Wednesday attacked a natural gas facility in Algeria.

And they took many hostages, of many different nationalities.

US officials have confirmed that some of those being held are American.

The facility that was attacked is part of a joint venture involving oil giant BP.

Algeria’s state news agency reported that two people were killed in the attack – including at least one foreigner – and six others wounded.

The BBC Arab Affairs Editor Sebastian Usher says that because citizens from Algeria, France, the US, the UK, and Japan are involved, the attack is an international crisis in the making.