At approximately 1:15 AM on 27 March 1996, about twenty armed members of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) arrived at the monastery of Tibhirine and kidnapped seven monks.
Sekitar 1:15 AM pada 27 Maret 1996, sekitar dua puluh anggota Grup Islamis Bersenjata datang ke biara Tibhirine dan menculik tujuh rahib.