Five months after the terrorist assault at the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria, many key questions about the bloody attack remain unanswered. Algerian authorities’ mum attitude and the British government meek efforts to uncover the details and circumstances surrounding to the death of 40 hostages smell of political appeasement and economic self-preservation.
Relatives of British slain victims and their representatives at the UK parliament (MP) have decried the slow moving paste of the investigation and Prime Minister’s Cameron disinterest in pressing British Petroleum (BP) and the Algerians for answers about the circumstances that led to the death of six British nationals.On the Floor of Westminster Hall, Labor MP Rosie Cooper raised the families’ grievances and disappointments over the lack of answers. The British Parliamentarian expressed fears that forensic evidence may be lost or compromised rendering future investigations ineffective.
Ms. Cooper asked to know more about the reasons and the source behind the assault stating that ” In the immediate aftermath of the attack, it was rationalised as retaliation for the French involvement in Mali. However, that view is now rejected. Other motives that have been speculated on are kidnapping, ransom, suicide bombers, or that the attack was an attempt to secure the release of Islamic terrorist prisoners. There are even some reports that suggest that the Algerian security services may have had some involvement. At the moment, we just do not know the truth.”
Criticizing the Foreign Office and BP lack of warning about the possibility of a terror attack in the Algerian Sahara despite indications to the contrary, MP Cooper noted that “a report by Executive Analysis named the In Amenas plant as a potential target for a terrorist attack.” She added that “ In the same article, BP is referenced as arguing “that there was no need for private guards in In Amenas”, owing to “large numbers of Algerian security forces “located nearby, with a full arsenal, including helicopters and tanks. Alongside that “access to the complex was controlled by Algerian gendarmerie.””
Families of the dead expats are pressuring their government to investigate the Algerian government lack of vigilance given that such armada was stationed few miles from the site of the attack and yet could not spot dozens of armed men in the open desert ready to attack an allegedly secure site.
Citing the lack of “co-operation from the Algerian authorities on allowing British investigators access to the site”, MP Rosie Cooper expressed concerns about the efficiency of the current investigation into the terror attack. SO15 (British Counter Terrorism Command) agents were prevented from gaining access to the In Amenas site not once but twice, despite the British Prime Minister having sought assurances on access from the Algerian Prime Minister” claims the Parliamentarian.
In fact, few details were ever confirmed about this major terrorist act. Reports stating that Algerian terrorist Mokhtar BelMokhtar was behind the assault were not definitive and the Algerian government never published a complete account of what happened that day in the desert.
