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Militants Attack Algeria Gas Plant, No Casualties


FILE - A view of Krechba gas treatment plant, about 1200 km (746 miles) south Algiers, Dec. 14, 2008.
FILE - A view of Krechba gas treatment plant, about 1200 km (746 miles) south Algiers, Dec. 14, 2008.

Unknown attackers fired rockets at a natural gas plant in southern Algeria Friday but there are no reports of casualties.

The facility is jointly operated by three energy firms, including Norway's Statoil. Statoil said in a statement that the In Salah gas plant in Krechba "was hit by explosive munitions fired from a distance" at about 6 a.m. local time.

It said its three employees in Krechba are unharmed, and that it has no information about anyone else being injured during the attack.

Britain's BP, one of the partners, said the plant's central processing facility has been shut down as a safety precaution.

Amenas attack

In January 2013, Islamist militants attacked the In Amenas gas plant in eastern Algeria.

FILE - Algerian soldier stands near damaged cars used by Islamist militants during siege near the Tiguentourine Gas Plant, In Amenas, Jan. 31, 2013.
FILE - Algerian soldier stands near damaged cars used by Islamist militants during siege near the Tiguentourine Gas Plant, In Amenas, Jan. 31, 2013.


About 40 workers, most of them foreigners, were killed during a four-day hostage crisis.

Militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar claimed responsibility for the attack in the name of al-Qaida.

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