Algerian gas plant pair were middle-class Canadians

TWO Canadians who took part in an attack by militants on an Algerian gas plant in January were in their early twenties and from middle-class backgrounds, according to a report by the ­Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC).

Around 70 people – including five Britons – died when Algerian troops stormed the Tigantourine desert gas plant and ended the siege. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said last month they had identified two suspects but gave no details.

CBC named the two men as former school friends Xristos Katsiroubas, 22, and Ali Medlej, who it said was about 24. Both came from London, Ontario.

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Katsiroubas, it was reported, grew up in a middle-class home and converted to Islam from the Greek Orthodox faith. He is thought to have been the attacker identified by survivors as having blond hair and speaking North American English.

A US government source said its agencies believed that the CBC report correctly identified the Canadian militants killed in the Algerian hostage siege.

Canadian foreign minister John Baird said other nations such as the United States, Sweden and Britain were also struggling to deal with radicalisation.

“Canada is far from the only country that has had to deal with this challenge. My colleagues and I will be discussing the issue in the days and weeks ahead,” he said in a conference call from the United Arab Emirates.

CBC said agents interviewed family and friends of the two men in 2007 after a relative told police the pair were “hanging around with weirdos”.

CBC also said two other former schoolmates travelled with Katsiroubas and Medlej.