Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Al Qaida has again attacked an energy facility in Algeria.

Al Qaida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb struck a natural gas
pipeline east of the Algerian capital. At least two guards at the facility
were killed and seven others were injured in an attack by 20 Islamist
fighters on Jan. 27.

Security sources said AQIM blew up the gas pipeline, meant to supply the rest of North Africa. This marked the second attack by Al Qaida on the facility, operated by the state energy monopoly Sonatrach.

Sonatrach has sent a team to examine the damage to the facility, located in the Bouira province, some 120 kilometers east of Algeria. Algerian Energy Minister Yusef Yusefi pledged to increase security at Algeria’s energy sites.

This marked the second AQIM attack on an energy facility in January
2013. The first strike was that of the Ein Amenas liquefied natural gas
plant in southern Algeria near the border with Libya.

  Al Qaida conducts second strike on Algerian gas facility, Al Qaida Organization in the Islami Maghreb, blows up pipeline, Ein Amenas, Sonatrach, Yusef Yusefi