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Gunmen take 170 hostages in attack on Mali hotel Gunmen take 170 hostages in attack on Mali hotel
(35 minutes later)
Gunmen have launched an attack on a Radisson hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, seizing about 170 people in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. Gunmen have launched an attack on a Radisson hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, seizing about 170 people in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead, according to the military.
A spokesman for the Malian security ministry told AFP that security forces are storming the hotel and at least a dozen hostages have been freed after the attack by “two or three” assailants. Security forces stormed the hotel and at least a dozen hostages have been freed after the attack by two or three assailants, a spokesman for the Malian security ministry told Agence France-Presse. The identities of the dead have not been confirmed, but one is thought to be a French national.
The spokesman said at least three hostages had been killed. Their identities were not yet known. Military sources said three attackers had been killed, but this could not be confirmed. Ambulances and a convoy of UN vehicles are at the scene.
Related: Mali hotel attack: gunmen take hostages in Bamako – live updatesRelated: Mali hotel attack: gunmen take hostages in Bamako – live updates
Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traore earlier said the gunmen who stormed the Radisson Blu hotel shouted “Allahu Akbar” before shooting at guards and taking hostages. A Malian army commander said the gunmen who stormed the Radisson Blu hotel shouted “Allahu Akbar” before shooting at guards and taking hostages.
Some hostages, including those able to recite verses of the Qur’an, were later released, security sources told Reuters. A security source told AFP that the gunmen were “jihadis” and entered the hotel compound in a car that had diplomatic plates. Some hostages, including those able to recite verses of the Qur’an, were later released, security sources told Reuters.
“It’s all happening on the seventh floor, jihadists are firing in the corridor,” AFP’s source said. A security source told AFP the gunmen were jihadis and entered the hotel compound in a car that had diplomatic plates. “It’s all happening on the seventh floor, jihadists are firing in the corridor,” the source said.
The hotel is just west of the city centre in a neighbourhood that is home to government ministries and diplomats.The hotel is just west of the city centre in a neighbourhood that is home to government ministries and diplomats.
In a statement the US-based Rezidor group, which owns the hotel, said 140 guests and 30 staff were being held hostage by two gunmen. The US-based Rezidor group, which owns the hotel, said 140 guests and 30 staff were being held hostage by two gunmen: “The Rezidor Hotel Group … is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20 November 2015. As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees.
“The Rezidor Hotel Group … is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20th November 2015. As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees,” the company said in a statement quoted by AFP.
Related: Are you affected by the Mali attack? Share your stories with usRelated: Are you affected by the Mali attack? Share your stories with us
“Our safety and security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order to offer any support possible to re-instate safety and security at the hotel,” it added. “Our safety and security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order to offer any support possible to re-instate safety and security at the hotel.”
The Chinese state news agency Xinhua said at least seven Chinese tourists were among those trapped inside the building. It has broadcast a 23-second video clip said to be filmed by one of the hostages: Air France said 12 of its crew were staying in the hotel, and Turkish Airlines said six of its staff were there.
The Chinese state news agency Xinhua said at least seven Chinese tourists were among those trapped inside the building. It has broadcast a short video clip said to be filmed by one of the hostages:
Cell phone video filmed by Chinese tourist taken hostage in Bamako, #Mali. The Chinese national is among 170 trapped https://t.co/0QSaS5wMSsCell phone video filmed by Chinese tourist taken hostage in Bamako, #Mali. The Chinese national is among 170 trapped https://t.co/0QSaS5wMSs
Turkish Airlines said six of its staff were caught up.
The US embassy in Bamako said it was aware of an “ongoing shooter situation” and advised its citizens to seek shelter.The US embassy in Bamako said it was aware of an “ongoing shooter situation” and advised its citizens to seek shelter.
France, the former colonial power, launched a military offensive in 2013 at Mali’s request after Islamist militants seized the strategic town of Konna. The French president, François Hollande, on Thursday praised the country’s military involvement in a speech after the Paris terror attacks.
“France is leading this war with its armed forced, its soldiers, its courage. It must carry out this war with its allies, its partners giving us all the means available, as we did in Mali, as we are going to continue in Iraq, as we’ll continue in Syria,” he said.
The Radisson attack follows a nearly 24-hour siege and hostage-taking at another hotel in August in the central Malian town of Sevare in which five UN workers were killed, along with four soldiers and four attackers.The Radisson attack follows a nearly 24-hour siege and hostage-taking at another hotel in August in the central Malian town of Sevare in which five UN workers were killed, along with four soldiers and four attackers.
Five people, including a French citizen and a Belgian, were also killed in an attack at a restaurant in Bamako in March in the first such incident in the capital. Five people, including a French citizen and a Belgian, were also killed in an attack at a restaurant in Bamako in March, in the first such incident in the capital.
Northern Mali was occupied by Islamist fighters, some with links to al-Qaida, for most of 2012. Although they were driven out by a French-led military operation, sporadic violence continues. Northern Mali was occupied by Islamist fighters, some with links to al-Qaida, for most of 2012. Although they were driven out by the French-led military operation, sporadic violence continues.