Investigators say Zintan rebels armed In Amenas attackers

Photo released by Algerian authorities shows camouflaged hostage-taker (R), moments before attack  Algiers – Hocine Bousalah Three members of the Signed-in-Blood Battalion, responsible for the attack on the In Amenas gas facility have told authorities that Zintan rebels in Libya sold the group weapons for use in the siege .Meanwhile, workers at the Tigantourine plant have identified the body of a kidnapper, and confirmed that he used to work as a driver at one of the companies inside the complex, before resigning last year.
Algerian security forces have seized a range of weapons after ending the hostage ordeal. These include anti-aircraft missiles, 23 Kalashnikovs, two mortar shells, TNT boxes and grenades.
Sources told Arabstoday that militant leader Abu Baraa al-Jazairi  was not killed during the security operation and has been detained, along with a Tunisian named Abu Talha, believed to be the mastermind of the operation. Sources named the ringleader as Mohamed Lamine Ben Shanab who negotiated with Zintan rebels to purchase weapons which were used during the attack.
The three men being questioned also confirmed that Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Abu Bakr Naji initially planned the operation, before handing over implementation of it to Abu Baraa and his assistant Mohamed Lamine Ben Shanab, founder of the Movement of Sons of the Sahara for Islamic Justice (MSJI).
On Wednesday, British newspaper The Guardian reported that America offered to help Algeria in surveillance and intelligence support, noting that US drone aircraft flew over the complex during the siege to monitor events.
The Guardian added that this is an indication of America's likely participation in the campaign against armed extremist movements in the region, being led by France.