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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2015/nov/20/mali-hotel-attack-gunmen-take-hostages-in-bamako-live-updates
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| Mali hotel attack: special forces enter Radisson after gunmen take hostages – live | Mali hotel attack: special forces enter Radisson after gunmen take hostages – live |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 12.42pm GMT12:42 | |
| One of the freed hostages said he heard the gunmen who attacked the hotel speaking English, according to Reuters. | |
| Hostage freed from Radisson Blu in #Mali capital says he heard attackers speaking English. #MaliAttacks #Bamako | |
| 12.36pm GMT12:36 | |
| France’s Gendarmerie Nationale has confirmed that special forces are on the way to Mali. | |
| ❗️ #Bamako Flash info : départ de personnels du #GIGN pour le #Mali pic.twitter.com/vwOZipXO28 | |
| 12.34pm GMT12:34 | |
| Jonathan Bucks | |
| One freed hostage who was hiding in his room as the attack took place, spoke to France 24. | |
| He said: “The police and security forces helped us get out the building. There are still lots of people in there. I also saw bodies in the lobby, It was absolutely horrible.” | |
| He also told the French broadcaster that he believed the police operation was ongoing but gave no more details. | |
| 12.25pm GMT12:25 | |
| The French broadcaster BFMTV has images of some of the 80 hostages being freed. | |
| VIDEO - Des otages libérés de l'hôtel Radisson #Bamako #Mali https://t.co/a22Pef7bC3 pic.twitter.com/QDsGRkFGNg | |
| 12.18pm GMT12:18 | 12.18pm GMT12:18 |
| Jonathan Bucks | Jonathan Bucks |
| French President Hollande has expressed his solidarity and support for Mali. | French President Hollande has expressed his solidarity and support for Mali. |
| He said: “I want to assure all Malians of our solidarity and support for them and I urge all French nationals who are in the affected to be vigilant at this time.” | He said: “I want to assure all Malians of our solidarity and support for them and I urge all French nationals who are in the affected to be vigilant at this time.” |
| Meanwhile, Liberation is reporting that around 40 elite French police officers have been sent to Bamako to help with the hostage situation. | |
| Updated at 12.21pm GMT | |
| 12.16pm GMT12:16 | 12.16pm GMT12:16 |
| Air France says 12 of its staff 'extracted' | Air France says 12 of its staff 'extracted' |
| Air France says 12 of its staff have been safely “extracted” from the hotel. | Air France says 12 of its staff have been safely “extracted” from the hotel. |
| #AirFrance confirme que ses 12 membres d'équipage à #Bamako ont été exfiltrés et sont en sécurité. pic.twitter.com/wh8LHA7ROi | #AirFrance confirme que ses 12 membres d'équipage à #Bamako ont été exfiltrés et sont en sécurité. pic.twitter.com/wh8LHA7ROi |
| 12.11pm GMT12:11 | 12.11pm GMT12:11 |
| Twenty Indian nationals are among the hostages being held, according to the Indian foreign ministry. | Twenty Indian nationals are among the hostages being held, according to the Indian foreign ministry. |
| “Our ambassador has confirmed that 20 Indians are held hostage at the hotel but they are alive,” spokesman Vikas Swarup told AFP. | “Our ambassador has confirmed that 20 Indians are held hostage at the hotel but they are alive,” spokesman Vikas Swarup told AFP. |
| #MaliAttack : Acc'g to current info there are 20 Indians staying in the hotel. Our Amb is continuously in touch with them & monitor'g sitn | #MaliAttack : Acc'g to current info there are 20 Indians staying in the hotel. Our Amb is continuously in touch with them & monitor'g sitn |
| 12.09pm GMT12:09 | 12.09pm GMT12:09 |
| French president François Hollande says every thing is being done to free the hostages, amid reports that French and US security services have been involved in an operation against the gunmen in the hotel. | French president François Hollande says every thing is being done to free the hostages, amid reports that French and US security services have been involved in an operation against the gunmen in the hotel. |
| MORE: A second assault is in course in the #Radisson hotel, lead by US and French special forces. #Bamako #Mali - @libe | MORE: A second assault is in course in the #Radisson hotel, lead by US and French special forces. #Bamako #Mali - @libe |
| 11.55am GMT11:55 | 11.55am GMT11:55 |
| Special forces enter hotel | Special forces enter hotel |
| Malian state TV claims 80 of the 170 hostages have been freed, Conflict News reports, as witnesses and a police source confirm that special forces have entered the hotel. | Malian state TV claims 80 of the 170 hostages have been freed, Conflict News reports, as witnesses and a police source confirm that special forces have entered the hotel. |
| MORE: Reports from Mali state TV that 80 hostages have been freed from hotel in #Bamako. https://t.co/3jL1b8uiXc | MORE: Reports from Mali state TV that 80 hostages have been freed from hotel in #Bamako. https://t.co/3jL1b8uiXc |
| “They’ve penetrated inside the hotel. The operations are under way,” a police source told Reuters. | “They’ve penetrated inside the hotel. The operations are under way,” a police source told Reuters. |
| Malian special forces enter Bamako Radisson Blu where Islamist gunmen holding hostages -Witness #Mali #Bamako | Malian special forces enter Bamako Radisson Blu where Islamist gunmen holding hostages -Witness #Mali #Bamako |
| Updated at 12.04pm GMT | Updated at 12.04pm GMT |
| 11.48am GMT11:48 | 11.48am GMT11:48 |
| Five Turkish Airlines staff freed | Five Turkish Airlines staff freed |
| Kareem Shaheen | Kareem Shaheen |
| Five Turkish Airlines staff members – a station chief, two pilots and two flight attendants – have been freed after being held hostage in the Radisson, writes Kareem Shaheen. | Five Turkish Airlines staff members – a station chief, two pilots and two flight attendants – have been freed after being held hostage in the Radisson, writes Kareem Shaheen. |
| Two TK flight attendants remain inside the hotel, according to a Turkish government official. | Two TK flight attendants remain inside the hotel, according to a Turkish government official. |
| At this stage, we do not know whether the crew members were released by the terrorists or rescued by the authorities. | At this stage, we do not know whether the crew members were released by the terrorists or rescued by the authorities. |
| 11.42am GMT11:42 | 11.42am GMT11:42 |
| The BBC reports that Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino was among those who escaped the attack on the hotel. | The BBC reports that Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino was among those who escaped the attack on the hotel. |
| It quotes him telling journalists:“I woke up with the sounds of gunshots and for me, it was just small bandits who came in the hotel to claim something. | It quotes him telling journalists:“I woke up with the sounds of gunshots and for me, it was just small bandits who came in the hotel to claim something. |
| “After 20 or 30 minutes, I realized these are not just petty criminals”. | “After 20 or 30 minutes, I realized these are not just petty criminals”. |
| Parmi les otages relachés figure le chanteur guinéen Sékouba Bambino qui se trouvait à l'hôtel Radisson de Bamako. pic.twitter.com/cizG7OqJhA | Parmi les otages relachés figure le chanteur guinéen Sékouba Bambino qui se trouvait à l'hôtel Radisson de Bamako. pic.twitter.com/cizG7OqJhA |
| Sekouba Bambino sortant de l'hôtel Radisson ! pic.twitter.com/ObB1gXoOh4 | Sekouba Bambino sortant de l'hôtel Radisson ! pic.twitter.com/ObB1gXoOh4 |
| Updated at 11.50am GMT | Updated at 11.50am GMT |
| 11.34am GMT11:34 | 11.34am GMT11:34 |
| At least seven Chinese tourist are caught up in the siege, according to the Xinhua state news agency. | At least seven Chinese tourist are caught up in the siege, according to the Xinhua state news agency. |
| At least 7 Chinese tourists among #hostages in Bamako, #Mali. (Cell phone video filmed by one Chinese hostage) https://t.co/e6NEwS2z78 | At least 7 Chinese tourists among #hostages in Bamako, #Mali. (Cell phone video filmed by one Chinese hostage) https://t.co/e6NEwS2z78 |
| 11.29am GMT11:29 | 11.29am GMT11:29 |
| A Malian military official has confirmed that at least three people are confirmed dead in the attack. | A Malian military official has confirmed that at least three people are confirmed dead in the attack. |
| Lt. Col. Diarran Kone told The Associated Press that the deaths were confirmed after gunmen stormed the hotel | Lt. Col. Diarran Kone told The Associated Press that the deaths were confirmed after gunmen stormed the hotel |
| Some 20 hostages were freed later in the morning and others managed to escape with the help of security forces, AP said. | Some 20 hostages were freed later in the morning and others managed to escape with the help of security forces, AP said. |
| The UN mission has confirmed that it has sent security reinforcements. | The UN mission has confirmed that it has sent security reinforcements. |
| 11.22am GMT11:22 | 11.22am GMT11:22 |
| If you have been affected by the siege, or have friends and family who are, we want to hear from you. Share your accounts, photos and videos – or any news tips that you’d like to send direct to our journalists – with GuardianWitness. | If you have been affected by the siege, or have friends and family who are, we want to hear from you. Share your accounts, photos and videos – or any news tips that you’d like to send direct to our journalists – with GuardianWitness. |
| This is an ongoing situation so please don’t share information that might put you, or your contacts, in danger. Please think about your security first when recording and sharing your content. | This is an ongoing situation so please don’t share information that might put you, or your contacts, in danger. Please think about your security first when recording and sharing your content. |
| You can also share with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44 (0) 7867 825056 | You can also share with the Guardian via WhatsApp by adding the contact +44 (0) 7867 825056 |
| 11.18am GMT11:18 | 11.18am GMT11:18 |
| Mamadou Tapily a Guardian fixer in Bamako is outside the hotel where he says several ambulances and a convoy of UN vehicles has arrived. | Mamadou Tapily a Guardian fixer in Bamako is outside the hotel where he says several ambulances and a convoy of UN vehicles has arrived. |
| Military sources said three jihadis who stormed the building have been killed, but this cannot be confirmed, he said. | Military sources said three jihadis who stormed the building have been killed, but this cannot be confirmed, he said. |
| The hotel was attacked by a group of around six people in a 4x4 vehicle at 7am, Tapily was told. | The hotel was attacked by a group of around six people in a 4x4 vehicle at 7am, Tapily was told. |
| The area is now barricaded off by police. | The area is now barricaded off by police. |
| Ambulances have arrived to treat many wounded people, Tapily said. “Ambulances are making lots of evacuations. We have seen injured people being transported in cars,” he added. | Ambulances have arrived to treat many wounded people, Tapily said. “Ambulances are making lots of evacuations. We have seen injured people being transported in cars,” he added. |
| 11.02am GMT11:02 | 11.02am GMT11:02 |
| Jonathan Bucks | Jonathan Bucks |
| The office of Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta tweeted that he is returning to Bamako to deal with the hostage situation after attending a conference in Chad | The office of Mali’s president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta tweeted that he is returning to Bamako to deal with the hostage situation after attending a conference in Chad |
| Le Pdt #IBK qui se trouve à N'Djaména au Tchad pour le sommet du G5 Sahel écourte son séjour pour regagner Bamako dans les prochaines heures | Le Pdt #IBK qui se trouve à N'Djaména au Tchad pour le sommet du G5 Sahel écourte son séjour pour regagner Bamako dans les prochaines heures |
| MALI | L'Hôtel #RadissonBlu de #Bamako attaquée ce matin par des assaillants armés qui prennent en otage 170 personnes #AttaqueRadisson | MALI | L'Hôtel #RadissonBlu de #Bamako attaquée ce matin par des assaillants armés qui prennent en otage 170 personnes #AttaqueRadisson |
| 10.53am GMT10:53 | 10.53am GMT10:53 |
| Britain’s Foreign Office says it is “aware of the situation” and is in touch with the authorities in Mali. | Britain’s Foreign Office says it is “aware of the situation” and is in touch with the authorities in Mali. |
| We're aware of the situation in #Mali and are in close touch with the authorities following the attack on the #Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako. | We're aware of the situation in #Mali and are in close touch with the authorities following the attack on the #Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako. |
| 10.50am GMT10:50 | 10.50am GMT10:50 |
| China’s state news agency Xinhua has broadcast a 23 second video clip said to be filmed by one of the hostages. | China’s state news agency Xinhua has broadcast a 23 second 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/0QSaS5wMSs | Cell phone video filmed by Chinese tourist taken hostage in Bamako, #Mali. The Chinese national is among 170 trapped https://t.co/0QSaS5wMSs |
| 10.47am GMT10:47 | 10.47am GMT10:47 |
| There are conflicting reports about the response of the security forces. AFP says they have stormed the hotel, citing a minister. But Reuters says that special forces are only “at the scene”, with France providing logistic and intelligence support. | There are conflicting reports about the response of the security forces. AFP says they have stormed the hotel, citing a minister. But Reuters says that special forces are only “at the scene”, with France providing logistic and intelligence support. |
| #BREAKING: Mali security forces storming besieged Bamako hotel: minister | #BREAKING: Mali security forces storming besieged Bamako hotel: minister |
| 10.43am GMT10:43 | 10.43am GMT10:43 |
| 'Three killed' | 'Three killed' |
| At least three people - two Malian and one French - were killed in the attack, a UN official told CNN. | At least three people - two Malian and one French - were killed in the attack, a UN official told CNN. |
| The Guardian cannot confirm this report. | The Guardian cannot confirm this report. |
| 10.41am GMT10:41 | 10.41am GMT10:41 |
| What we know | What we know |
| You can read our latest story on the attack here. | You can read our latest story on the attack here. |
| Updated at 10.49am GMT | Updated at 10.49am GMT |