Vital that national oil companies review security, says Redditch MP after hostage crisis (From Redditch Advertiser)

Vital that national oil companies review security, says Redditch MP after hostage crisis

6:00pm Tuesday 22nd January 2013 in News

REDDITCH MP Karen Lumley recently asked PM David Cameron about stepping up security in Algeria and other African countries after the Algeria crisis.

At least 48 hostages are now thought to have died, including three British victims, in a four-day siege the In Amenas gas plant, starting on January 16 when militants attacked two buses carrying in Amenas workers.

The militants then went on to the gas facility's living quarters, seizing hostages.

After an earlier attack the Algerian forces launched a final assault on January 19 after reports that the hostage-takers were killing their captives.

A search is now underway at the gas plant where a number of hostages remain unaccounted for.

The MP's husband, Richard, worked in Algeria for years on a base not too far away from In Amenas.

Mrs Lumley said: "It is vital that national oil companies urgently review their security procedures to protect all of their staff.

"There are many thousands of UK nationals that are based abroad and we need to make sure this does not happen again. My heart goes out to those families who have lost loved ones."

She added: "There is always a risk to working in countries like Algeria but you never think it will happen to you."