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Al Qaeda-linked group holding Americans hostage in Algeria

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    At least three Americans in group being held at natural gas field

  • Duration 6:16
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But first from fox at 3 o'clock US intelligence officials have confirmed that al-Qaeda linked militants are holding at least three Americans hostage along with other foreigners at a natural gas field partly owned by BP in the African nation of Algeria.

According to Algerian state television the militants attacked the facility.

Near the border of Libya killed at least two people and hurt at least six others before taking hostages.

A spokesman for the militant says they are holding seven Americans but -- -- -- cannot confirm that.

The militants say the siege.

Is to pay back to Algeria for letting western jets used its airspace to attack Islamist fighters in bordering -- The fox sports -- correspondent Jonathan -- with the news Donovan secretary of state Hillary Clinton is now in touch with Al.

-- officials right -- State Department officials confirming to within the lost two hours -- of state Clinton has called the Algerian prime minister.

The two countries the two governments working together to try to look at -- they can do to bring an end.

To this hostage situation.

-- -- -- officials would not confirm any numbers.

Any names any.

About this they say they want to keep everything under wraps for the moment so that they -- look the channels as best they know how.

This of course a very concerning situation.

Would these Islamist militants taking.

The hostages among them some Americans and just put the map back up again we gonna talk about.

Molly in the south in a moment as you take a look at this map.

But look to the east -- it is possibly no coincidence that this gas field is right on the border with Libya of the rise of Islamic extremism.

Right across North Africa is a major.

Concern right now for US officials -- As you look at that -- -- -- seem Molly as well to the south and all of this is related to the fight against Islamist in that neighboring country yet remember the French launched a campaign on Friday it was enact campaign.

Ashcroft.

Jet fighters dropping bombs helicopters also going in.

They've now made this a grand campaign remember we -- from Leon Panetta the defense -- good.

Just a couple of days ago that the US is providing.

Intelligence.

Back up as they described it.

To the -- so this is what is going on there right now these -- Islamic militants.

Are taking mall and mall grand in -- there's a fear that this could become the next Afghanistan a base.

The terror training operations that's why the French when did but according to a lot of experts this is going to be a very difficult fight listen.

I think the French went in expecting a very short intervention just to push the islamists back.

It meant a lot more resistance they -- than they anticipated these guys there are battle hardened well armed well equipped they're able to blend in.

With the local communities and kind of melt away and regroup.

So the French -- in counting difficult time.

And -- is exactly the kind of failed all failing state.

That Islamic extremists would like to take advantage and -- and set up a base of operations that's the real concern for the US interest.

Indeed Jonathan -- live for us in New York Jonathan thank you joining us now Rick Ozzie Nelson he is the vice president for business development -- cross match technologies.

He is also a former navy helicopter pilot including assignments at the National Security Council and the National Counterterrorism Center.

He recently served in Afghanistan Rick good you join us eight Johnson makes a very good point -- showing that map about where this attack happened.

Right on the border of Libya these Islamist militants are very well funded and very well armed and apparently that's no surprise to you.

Oh absolutely Tracy you're exactly right they have been well funded through the years through kidnap for ransom with the chaos in Libya they benefited from that by getting an influx of weapons including shoulder fired missiles.

The chaos and Molly asserted benefited them and they're growing relations with -- or wrong and other militants.

Down south in Nigeria has also helped them so they really have expanded to reach and capabilities in recent years.

You know when we heard that just a whole phrase when you have westerners being held hostage that is a hot button issue we've got 41 people being held now at least three Americans the we have confirmed.

As many as seven Americans -- how does this escalate in what is what is the US do next.

What right now the most important thing is to get situation awareness of what is actually going on at the compound who is being held hostage.

What -- the number of militants there what are -- capabilities.

And the good news is that there are other partner -- such as United Kingdom and France that are involved in this as well.

They all have very high and -- hostage rescue capabilities that can be brought to -- are very quickly to it to bring the situation to an end if needed.

And we always know that look this is because of the response sapping by the French and Molly because they use Algerian airspace Molly is well to the south of world where this happened.

Are are we expecting more violence to break out but 'cause of what's happening now and -- Are absolutely I think we should -- Qaeda in the -- Has been operating fairly freely although isolated.

In that in that area of Africa and now we decided rightly so to put some pressure on them.

And we're seeing a response as you would see was some entity entity -- under incredible pressure.

So as we wraps up the pressure to eradicate them they will become more hostile and violent.

Is Molly the next Yemen is -- the next Afghanistan.

I don't think it will beyond that scale I think the problems and Yemen and the location of Yemen is much much more complicated.

But the issue of the -- -- -- is something that we are going to have to deal with I think seeing France taking the lead in this is a very positive role.

They have a lot as well as the European our European partners do to to gain or lose in this situation and we need to support -- eradicating the militants there.

Yeah Rick Ozzie Nelson it's great information thank you sir we appreciate it thank you Trace.

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