Suspected Islamist militants seized up to eight foreign nationals today, including according to one report a Briton, from a BP gas field in central Algeria.

BP confirmed there had been a “security incident” at the In Amenas gas field. “The Algerian authorities are engaged with the incident.

The UK authorities have also been advised,” the company said in a statement. “BP has activated its emergency response system and is setting up a helpline for relatives. We have no more confirmed details at this time. We will provide further updates.”

The foreigners were taken from the facility in the morning by armed gunmen, diplomatic sources and local officials told Reuters. The Foreign Office could not confirm if any Britons were caught up in the incident, though it said British nationals did "work in the area". In a statement, it described the kidnapping as a terrorist incident.

“A terrorist incident is ongoing near the town of Ain Amenas at an oil installation near the Algerian border with Libya.

“The British embassy in Algiers is aware of the incident and liaising with the local authorities as appropriate. “We are aware there are British nationals working in the area, we cannot confirm at this stage whether any are involved in the incident. We are urgently seeking clarification from oil companies working in the area.” Algerian security forces have reportedly surrounded the facility.

There was speculation that the attackers came from northern Mali, which has been held by Islamist groups for months. Algeria's southern border with Mali was closed on January 14, three days after the French military intervened in that country in a bid to push back Islamist insurgents. French foreign ministry officials said they had no immediate comment on the hostage report and were still trying to verify the information.

The oil field is a joint venture by BP, Statoil and Sonatrach, the Algerian state company. It is located about 800 miles from the capital Algiers and 185 miles from Hassi Massoud, the nearest town and the site of an oil refinery.