US charges former al Qaeda leader in siege at Algerian gas plant

The Algerian Islamist — who allegedly masterminded the seizure in which 38 hostages, including three Americans, died — was charged on eight counts, including kidnapping and conspiring to take hostages

New York: US authorities have charged the former leader of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Mokhtar Belmokhtar, over the deadly January siege at an Algerian gas plant and other crimes.

The one-eyed Algerian Islamist — who allegedly masterminded the seizure in which 38 hostages, including three Americans, died — was charged on eight counts, including kidnapping and conspiring to take hostages.

Both carry maximum sentences of life in prison.

The charge sheet also includes a count of conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction at the time of the siege, during which Belmokhtar and his associates threatened to blow up the entire plant.

Branded ‘The Uncatchable,’ Belmokhtar is also thought to have been behind twin car bombings in Niger in May that left at least 20 people dead.