Algeria crisis: Attack could not have been anticipated, says MacAskill 21 January 2013 Last updated at 10:41 Scotland's justice secretary believes no-one could have anticipated the "horrendous attack" at an Algerian gas plant involving people from Scotland. Kenny MacAskill confirmed two workers with Scottish connections were among 48 hostages killed during the four-day siege at the BP-run In Amenas facility. A further eight Scots escaped and are now back in Britain. Mr MacAskill said there had always been "difficulties" in Algeria but no one could have foreseen what happened. He told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "Algeria is a country I know well, having visited myself many years ago and my own father worked there some considerable time back, so I know the country. It has ebbed and flowed, it had got better, but there has always been difficulties there and indeed as we see whether in Mali or indeed Libya, both of which are adjacent to Algeria, there are ongoing problems. But I don't think anybody could have anticipated such a horrendous attack that has seen the death, not only of those with a Scottish connection or a UK connection, but people from many, many countries around the world, not least Algeria. The first minister spoke to the prime minister on the very first day and since then I have had daily contact with Alistair Burt from the FoC End Quote Kenny MacAskill Scotland Justice Secretary The siege began on 16 January when militants attacked two buses carrying workers to the Algerian plant. They then broke into the facility's living quarters and main installation, seizing hostages. The Algerian forces began attacking the militants as they tried to move their hostages by car. The siege was finally declared over on Sunday with at least 32 hostage-takers dead and 48 hostages killed. Mr MacAskill praised the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FoC) for liaising closely with Scottish officials. He said: "The first minister spoke to the prime minister on the very first day and since then I have had daily contact with Alistair Burt from the FoC and indeed officers from Strathclyde Police have been liaising with police and FoC officials in London. So, as much information as could have been given has been given and I am extremely grateful on a personal basis to Alistair Burt for his courtesy. Mr MacAskill said it was not the right time to comment on how the Algerian authorities had handled the crisis. He added: "We need to review the situation and clearly any action that has to be taken should be taken on an international basis." Mr Strachan is one of eight Scottish people to have escaped. Speaking on Algerian television, he said he was "very relieved to be out." He said: "Obviously we still don't really know what's happening back on site.