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Mali attack highlights global spread of extremist violence Mali attack: dozens killed in terrorist raid on Bamako hotel
(34 minutes later)
A terror attack at a luxury hotel in Bamako, Mali, on Friday has highlighted the world’s growing vulnerability to extremist violence, with at least 27 people found dead when special forces eventually re-took the building. A terror attack at a luxury hotel in Mali’s capital has left at least 27 people dead and highlighted the world’s growing vulnerability to extremist violence.
Less than a week after the Paris gun and suicide bomb attacks in which 130 people were killed, a group of heavily-armed and seemingly well-trained gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, using a car with diplomatic number plates to drive unchallenged into an inner compound. Less than a week after the Paris gun and suicide bomb attacks in which 130 people were killed, a group of heavily armed and seemingly well-trained gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako.
Once there, witnesses said, they detonated grenades and opened fire at security guards before taking hostage around 170 people, among them diplomats, a celebrated Guinean singer and air crew from France and Turkey, as well as Indian and Chinese nationals. They drove unchallenged into an inner compound, detonated grenades, opened fire at security guards and then took hostage around 170 people, among them diplomats, a celebrated Guinean singer and air crew from France and Turkey, as well as Indian and Chinese nationals.
The siege was the latest in a string of recent high-profile terror attacks, from bombings in Beirut and the downing of a Russian airline over the Sinai desert to the events of the streets of Paris. The siege was the latest in a string of recent high-profile terror attacks, from bombings in Beirut and the downing of a Russian airline over the Sinai desert to the events in Paris.
By late Friday night Malian special forces, assisted by counterparts from the US and France, had fought their way through the hotel, floor by floor, reportedly killing at least two of the gunmen. By late Friday night, Malian special forces assisted by counterparts from the US and France had fought their way through the hotel floor by floor, reportedly killing at least two of the gunmen.
Related: Mali hotel attack – in picturesRelated: Mali hotel attack – in pictures
At least 30 people escaped during the siege and UN peacekeeping troops said they had discovered at least 27 bodies in a preliminary search of the hotel. The toll could well rise, with some gunmen reportedly still holed up in an upper floor of the building on Friday evening. At least 30 people escaped during the siege and UN peacekeeping troops said they had discovered at least 27 bodies in a preliminary search of the hotel. The toll could well rise, with some gunmen reportedly still holed up on an upper floor of the building on Friday evening.
“The attackers no longer have hostages,” said security ministry spokesman Amadou Sanghou. “They are dug in in the upper floors. They are alone with the Malian special forces who are trying to dislodge them.” “The attackers no longer have hostages,” said a security ministry spokesman, Amadou Sanghou. “They are dug in in the upper floors. They are alone with the Malian special forces who are trying to dislodge them.”
A military official said the gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they began the attack. Al-Mourabitoun, an African jihadi group affiliated with al-Qaida, claimed responsibility in a message posted on Twitter.A military official said the gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they began the attack. Al-Mourabitoun, an African jihadi group affiliated with al-Qaida, claimed responsibility in a message posted on Twitter.
The bloody attack is a blow to for Mali’s president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who rushed back from a meeting of regional leaders in Chad. It also marks another reverse for François Hollande, whose country ruled Mali for 68 years until 1960. The French president gained significant political capital for his 2013 decision to commit French troops to driving Islamist forces out of the north of Mali. The attack is a blow to Mali’s president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who rushed back from a meeting of regional leaders in Chad. It also marks another reverse for François Hollande, whose country ruled Mali for 68 years until 1960. The French president gained significant political capital from his decision in 2013 to commit French troops to driving Islamist forces out of the north of Mali.
Hollande personally flew out to Timbuktu in February 2013, five days after French forces had routed the occupying jihadists, to hail the operation, saying it had “brought hope to the populations of northern Mali”.Hollande personally flew out to Timbuktu in February 2013, five days after French forces had routed the occupying jihadists, to hail the operation, saying it had “brought hope to the populations of northern Mali”.
His deployment of 3,700 French ground troops to assist the faltering efforts of Mali’s military had been seen as deeply risky, but in the end it took just 23 days for the French to retake most of a swath of territory held for nine months by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim).His deployment of 3,700 French ground troops to assist the faltering efforts of Mali’s military had been seen as deeply risky, but in the end it took just 23 days for the French to retake most of a swath of territory held for nine months by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim).
Al-Mourabitoun – whose claim that it carried out the hotel attack is yet to be verified – is a more recent incarnation of militant Islamism. Based in northern Mali, it is made up mostly of Tuaregs and Arabs and was formed only about two years ago.Al-Mourabitoun – whose claim that it carried out the hotel attack is yet to be verified – is a more recent incarnation of militant Islamism. Based in northern Mali, it is made up mostly of Tuaregs and Arabs and was formed only about two years ago.
The attack on the Radisson, one of Bamako’s plushest hotels in a neighbourhood also home to government ministries and diplomats, appeared notably brutal, though it remained unclear how many people were killed by the attackers and who might have died while the hotel was stormed by troops. The attack on the Radisson, one of Bamako’s plushest hotels in a neighbourhood also home to government ministries and diplomats, appeared notably brutal, though it remained unclear how many people were killed by the attackers and who might have died when the hotel was stormed by troops.
State television showed footage of soldiers in camouflage fatigues wielding AK47s in the lobby of the hotel. In the background, a body lay under a brown blanket at the bottom of a flight of stairs. State television showed footage of soldiers in camouflage fatigues wielding AK-47s in the lobby of the hotel. In the background, a body lay under a brown blanket at the bottom of a flight of stairs.
The UN peacekeepers saw 12 dead bodies in the basement of the hotel and another 15 on the second floor, a UN official told Reuters. He said the UN troops were still helping Malian authorities search the hotel. The UN peacekeepers saw 12 dead bodies in the basement of the hotel and another 15 on the second floor, a UN official told Reuters. He said the UN troops were still helping Malian authorities to search the hotel.
The hotel’s owner, the Rezidor Hotel Group, said 170 guests and staff were initially trapped. Some fled or escaped, with reports that the hostage-takers freed those who were able to quote passages from the Qur’an. The hotel’s owner, the Rezidor Hotel Group, said 170 guests and staff were initially trapped. Some fled or escaped. Reports said the hostage-takers freed those who were able to quote passages from the Qur’an.
Among the released hostages was a famous Guinean singer, Sékouba “Bambino” Diabaté, who told reporters he heard some of the attackers in the room next to him speaking to each other in English. “I heard them say in English ‘Did you load it?’, ‘Let’s go’,” he said. “I wasn’t able to see them because in these kinds of situations it’s hard.” Among the released hostages was the Guinean singer Sékouba “Bambino” Diabaté, who told reporters he heard some of the attackers in the room next to him speaking to each other in English. “I heard them say in English: ‘Did you load it? Let’s go,’” he said. “I wasn’t able to see them because in these kinds of situations it’s hard.”
Air France said 12 of its crew who were staying in the hotel were safe. It cancelled its scheduled flights to and from Bamako for Friday. Turkish Airlines had around seven or eight staff staying at the hotel, with most of them released before the building was re-taken. Air France said 12 of its crew who were staying in the hotel were safe. It cancelled its scheduled flights to and from Bamako on Friday. Turkish Airlines had around seven or eight staff staying at the hotel, most of whom were released before the building was retaken.
India’s foreign ministry said 20 Indian nationals were among the hostages, but that they were all known to be alive. Seven Algerians, including diplomats, were trapped in a hotel, according to the country’s foreign ministry. India’s foreign ministry said 20 Indian nationals were among the hostages, and they were all known to be alive. Seven Algerians, including diplomats, were trapped in the hotel, according to that country’s foreign ministry.
The Pentagon said 22 military and civilian employees in the city were accounted for after the attack.The Pentagon said 22 military and civilian employees in the city were accounted for after the attack.
The US Africa Command said forces stationed in Mali helped to secure the scene, while France’s national gendarme service said about 40 French special police forces, based in Bamako, took part in the assault on the hotel. A security source told Reuters the troops cleared the building floor by floor. “The attackers are still inside. We’re hearing gunfire from time to time,” a witness outside the hotel told the agency after the hostages were freed. The US Africa Command said forces stationed in Mali helped to secure the scene, and France’s national gendarme service said about 40 French special police forces based in Bamako took part in the assault on the hotel.
Ban Ki-moon condemned the “horrific” attack, his spokesman saying the UN secretary general expressed “full support to the Malian authorities in their fight against terrorist and extremist groups”. A security source told Reuters that the troops cleared the building floor by floor. “The attackers are still inside. We’re hearing gunfire from time to time,” a witness outside the hotel told the agency after the hostages were freed.
Ban Ki-moon condemned the “horrific” attack. His spokesman said the UN secretary general expressed “full support to the Malian authorities in their fight against terrorist and extremist groups”.
Northern Mali was occupied by rebel 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.Northern Mali was occupied by rebel 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.
In the two and a half years since the French intervention, Mali and its international partners have been working to rebuild, with elections later in 2013 returning Keïta to power. The 70-year-old who had previously been president from 1994 to 2000. In the two and a half years since the French intervention, Mali and its international partners have been working to rebuild, with elections later in 2013 returning Keïta to power. The 70-year-old had previously been president from 1994 to 2000.
This summer, long-running peace talks in Algiers saw agreement between Mali’s government and Tuareg-led separatist rebels, which granted greater autonomy to northern regions and aimed to prevent a repeat of the 2012 uprising.This summer, long-running peace talks in Algiers saw agreement between Mali’s government and Tuareg-led separatist rebels, which granted greater autonomy to northern regions and aimed to prevent a repeat of the 2012 uprising.
But, as with Afghanistan or Iraq, the conflict has never fully gone away, with a variety of armed groups still operating in the north, including jihadi offshoots such as al-Mourabitoun, as well as various separatist organisations.But, as with Afghanistan or Iraq, the conflict has never fully gone away, with a variety of armed groups still operating in the north, including jihadi offshoots such as al-Mourabitoun, as well as various separatist organisations.
Recently, the jihadi problem has shown signs of creeping into central and southern Mali. 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. Recently, the jihadi problem has shown signs of creeping into central and southern Mali. 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. Both attacks were also claimed by al-Mourabitoun. Five people, including a French citizen and a Belgian, were killed in an attack at a restaurant in Bamako in March, the first such incident in the capital. Both attacks were also claimed by al-Mourabitoun.