Al Qarra – Hundreds of Algerians and foreigners are reportedly held captive by armed Islamists at a gas facility near In Amenas. A big operation targeted the complex jointly operated by British group BP, the Algerian Sonatrach and the Norwegian firm statoil. A group close to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is reportedly holding 41 foreign nationals according to the Mauritanian press agency ANI. But it is unclear what the exact number of hostages is and what nationality they are. Several countries confirmed the presence of American, British, Japanese, Norwegians and an Irish national. French, Malays and Filipinos citizens could also be held hostage. Thirty Algerian workers reportedly escaped from the facility on Thursday according to Algerian APS news agency. Ennahar television says that 15 foreign hostages have found their way out safely. According to the latest unconfirmed reports on Thursday, 34 hostages and 15 captors have been killed on the gas site on In Amenas.