LONDON (AP) — The kidnapping of seven foreign workers in Nigeria claimed by an Islamic extremist group has touched a nerve in Europe, coming just weeks after the tragic end of a hostage drama in Algeria in which 37 gas plant workers and 29 al Qaida-linked militants died.
A group that calls itself Ansaru issued a short statement about the kidnapping in northern Nigeria over the weekend, hinting at political motivations for snatching what Nigerian authorities say are one British citizen, one Greek, one Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino.
"What is likely to happen is some kind of drawn-out period — weeks or months — on how to maneuver to safeguard the lives of these hostages while not giving in to ransom demands," said Mark Schroeder, vice president of Africa analysis at Stratfor, a U.S.-based private global intelligence firm.
Virginia Comolli, a research associate focused on extremism at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Algeria wanted to "send a very strong message" to hostage takers and display a no-nonsense, hard-fisted approach.
Western governments also might not have the confidence in local Nigerian security forces to carry out an advanced hostage rescue operation and will likely mobilize their own security forces and agents.
A botched attempt by France's military to rescue a French intelligence officer held for more than three years by Somalia's al-Shabab militant group saw two French soldiers and 17 Somalis killed.
A group that calls itself Ansaru issued a short statement about the kidnapping in northern Nigeria over the weekend, hinting at political motivations for snatching what Nigerian authorities say are one British citizen, one Greek, one Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino.
"What is likely to happen is some kind of drawn-out period — weeks or months — on how to maneuver to safeguard the lives of these hostages while not giving in to ransom demands," said Mark Schroeder, vice president of Africa analysis at Stratfor, a U.S.-based private global intelligence firm.
Virginia Comolli, a research associate focused on extremism at London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, noted that Algeria wanted to "send a very strong message" to hostage takers and display a no-nonsense, hard-fisted approach.
Western governments also might not have the confidence in local Nigerian security forces to carry out an advanced hostage rescue operation and will likely mobilize their own security forces and agents.
A botched attempt by France's military to rescue a French intelligence officer held for more than three years by Somalia's al-Shabab militant group saw two French soldiers and 17 Somalis killed.
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