The repercussions of the terrorist attack two weeks ago against Sonatrach and BP oil workers at Tiguentourine in Algeria continue to reverberate, and authorities in the region have adopted increased security measures.
The attack and hostage crisis that killed 37 foreigners is only the first of Mokhtar Belmokhtar's plans. He leads an armed group called al-Moulathamine, or the Masked Brigade. The threat issued following the attack was the first of its kind since the 1990s. The Algerian security services are taking the threat seriously and have stepped up their vigilance, especially around oil and gas sites.