Al-Qaeda gunmen attack Algerian post office

Al-Qaeda gunmen attacked a post office in Adrar, in the south of Algeria on Monday, seizing a large sum of money. Two guards were attacked in the robbery. A security source told Arabstoday that it is likely that the armed group had entered the Algerian territory from Khalil city at the borders of Mali. The source added that the gunmen, who were armed with machine guns, physically assaulted two guards of the post office and seized a huge sum of money. The source failed to specify the value of the stolen money. Algerian army forces started an immediate search for the attackers, using combat aircraft to comb the area. The leadership of the Algerian army gave strict instructions to military units deployed on the border with Mali, to open fire on those attempting to penetrate the Algerian territories. The army will be using military helicopters to aid in this task. The Algerian government has closed its borders with Mali, after the French military intervention to oust Islamists who took control of areas in the north of Bamako.