Algeria hostage crisis: William Hague condemns terrorist 'murderers' Mr Hague said that the Government is now "working to ensure that those who survived this ordeal are properly cared for and reunited with their loved ones." The Prime Minister has been warned to expect "multiple" Britons to be among up to 34 gas workers killed in the West's worst hostage crisis in a generation. A botched military attack on a BP gas plant in Algeria, where al-Qaeda kidnappers were holding 41 westerners, led to a bloodbath as helicopter gunships opened fire on the compound. The attack was carried out against the wishes of Mr Cameron and other Western leaders, who had urged Algeria to negotiate with the kidnappers after the captives said bombs had been strapped to their bodies. At least one Briton was reported to have died, following the death on Wednesday of another Briton when the hostages were taken. Senior Downing Street sources said they were braced for "multiple British casualties." Mr Cameron warned that the country "should be prepared for the possibility of further bad news." On Thursday night the hostage crisis appeared to be approaching a disastrous climax amid growing international anger over Algeria's handling of the situation. According to one report, 34 hostages were dead, but conflicting accounts suggested six westerners had been killed.