Three Norwegian Statoil employees who survived the terror attack in In Amenas, Algeria in January, has told about how a series of coincidences saved their lives during the attack.
During a two-hour long interview with NRK, Kolbjørn Kirkebø (51), Bjarne Våge (58) and Thure Ingebrigtsen (57) talk about several coincidences and crucial choices that came into play when terrorists attacked the gas plant in Las Amenas, where several Norwegian employees worked for Statoil.
The survivors agree that although security precautions at the gas plant were extensive, security failed when it allowed the attackers to come right up to the plant without being detected.
Våge was sitting in his room, drinking coffee, when the terrorists stormed in. "You are hostages," the terrorists announced, and pointed their guns at them.
Våge decided that he had to find a way to escape. While they were walking close to one of the gas plants, he saw an opportunity and started to run. One of the terrorists followed him and threatened to shoot him, but didn't. Våge thinks he may have been worried that he would hit a gas pipe.
In retrospect, Våge thinks about that one of the reasons he managed to escape was simply because the straps the terrorists had used to tie his hands together were strapped together the wrong way, and he was able to get them off. "I think about how that happened to me, but not to the other ones," Våge explains.
Ingebritsen and Kirkebø also told their stories of how they managed to survive, and the details and circumstances that made it possible. They were lucky.
Unfortunately, five other Statoil employees were not, and on January 25, Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide concluded that there was no hope of finding any more survivors after the attacks.
(NRK)
Julie Ryland
The UN has requested that Norwegian police officers help with a future peacekeeping project in Syria.
..
The Sofie Prize 2013 is awarded to US journalist Bill McKibben for building a social movement, fighting to preserve a sustainable planet.
..
The Progress Party (FrP) held their National Congress this weekend, and discussed the party's main positions before this fall's election. They want to redefine "the Norwegian model". ..
The Norwegian-Russian Commission for Nuclear Security will meet in Kirkenes, Norway on Tuesday to discuss nuclear security in the North, the Department of Foreign Affairs has announced.
..
The clean-up process in the wake of the destructive floodwaters which hit Eastern Norway this week, has barely begun, but it is already clear that it will be a long and very expensive task...
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has presented its views on the Norwegian economy and Norwegian economic policy, and concludes that the Norwegian economy continues to perform well.(Photo: Finance Minister Sigbjørn Johnsen)..
Norwegian energy producer Statoil has acquired a 12% working interest in the Block 6 licence offshore Tanzania from operator Petrobras Tanzania Ltd...
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide is visiting Ethiopia, where he is attending Saturday's African Summit in Addis Ababa, marking the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) 50 years ago...
Although the rainfall has subsided over most of Eastern Norway, the water level in larger rivers and lakes are still on the rise. More people have been evacuated, due to danger of flush floods...
