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| Mali hotel attack: Hunt for three suspects | Mali hotel attack: Hunt for three suspects |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Malian security forces are hunting three suspects connected to the attack on a hotel in the capital, Bamako, on Friday, in which 19 people were killed. | Malian security forces are hunting three suspects connected to the attack on a hotel in the capital, Bamako, on Friday, in which 19 people were killed. |
| Two militants were also killed, after special forces stormed the hotel, freeing dozens of trapped guests. | Two militants were also killed, after special forces stormed the hotel, freeing dozens of trapped guests. |
| An official from one of Bamako's main hospitals told the BBC that 21 corpses were taken to their mortuary alone. | |
| Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliate, al-Murabitoun, said they carried out the attack. | Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its affiliate, al-Murabitoun, said they carried out the attack. |
| President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has declared a 10-day state of emergency and three days of national mourning. | |
| Gunmen entered the upscale Radisson Blu hotel on Friday morning, shooting as their vehicle broke through a security barrier, one eyewitness said. | Gunmen entered the upscale Radisson Blu hotel on Friday morning, shooting as their vehicle broke through a security barrier, one eyewitness said. |
| Most of the hotel guests and staff were later freed when Malian special forces, French special forces and off-duty US servicemen stormed the hotel to end the siege. | Most of the hotel guests and staff were later freed when Malian special forces, French special forces and off-duty US servicemen stormed the hotel to end the siege. |
| It is not clear if the suspects being looked for took part in the attack or are accomplices who helped the gunmen. | It is not clear if the suspects being looked for took part in the attack or are accomplices who helped the gunmen. |
| The exact number of gunmen is also not known. Eyewitnesses said up to 13 entered the hotel shooting and shouting "God is greatest!" in Arabic, however the company that runs the hotel, Rezidor Group, said on Friday that only two attackers were involved. | The exact number of gunmen is also not known. Eyewitnesses said up to 13 entered the hotel shooting and shouting "God is greatest!" in Arabic, however the company that runs the hotel, Rezidor Group, said on Friday that only two attackers were involved. |
| The victims | The victims |
| Why Mali is an insurgent hotspot | Why Mali is an insurgent hotspot |
| Find out about Mali | Find out about Mali |
| Among those killed were three Chinese business executives, and China's President Xi Jinping has said what happened was "cruel and savage", Reuters news agency reports. | |
| A US national also died, and US President Barack Obama said the attack was yet another reminder that the "scourge of terrorism" threatened many nations. | A US national also died, and US President Barack Obama said the attack was yet another reminder that the "scourge of terrorism" threatened many nations. |
| UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said three Britons who had been in the hotel were safe. | UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said three Britons who had been in the hotel were safe. |
| President Keita said Mali would "do everything to eradicate terrorism" in the country. | President Keita said Mali would "do everything to eradicate terrorism" in the country. |
| The claim by a Saharan jihadist group allied to al-Qaeda that they were behind the attack is a reminder that the country still faces an insurgency, says the BBC's Frank Gardner. | The claim by a Saharan jihadist group allied to al-Qaeda that they were behind the attack is a reminder that the country still faces an insurgency, says the BBC's Frank Gardner. |
| In 2013, French forces managed to reverse the takeover of much of Mali by Islamist militants. | In 2013, French forces managed to reverse the takeover of much of Mali by Islamist militants. |
| But it is a large country with porous borders and areas of ungoverned space in which jihadist groups have been able to hide and plan attacks, our correspondent says. | But it is a large country with porous borders and areas of ungoverned space in which jihadist groups have been able to hide and plan attacks, our correspondent says. |
| It has not been helped by the ease with which weapons can come across from Libya, nor by the proximity of a murderous insurgency in Nigeria. | It has not been helped by the ease with which weapons can come across from Libya, nor by the proximity of a murderous insurgency in Nigeria. |
| There is as yet no established link with the attacks in Paris one week ago that killed 130 people. | There is as yet no established link with the attacks in Paris one week ago that killed 130 people. |
| In August, suspected Islamist gunmen killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in the central Malian town of Sevare. | In August, suspected Islamist gunmen killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in the central Malian town of Sevare. |
| France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in the country in January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako after taking control of the north of the country. | France, the former colonial power in Mali, intervened in the country in January 2013, when al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako after taking control of the north of the country. |
| The UN force in Mali took over responsibility for security in the country from French and African troops in July 2013, after the main towns in the north had been recaptured from the Islamist militants. | The UN force in Mali took over responsibility for security in the country from French and African troops in July 2013, after the main towns in the north had been recaptured from the Islamist militants. |
| Militancy in Mali: | Militancy in Mali: |
| Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has been happening? Do you have any information you can share? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what has been happening? Do you have any information you can share? If it is safe to do so, you can get in touch by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways : | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways : |
| Or use the form below | Or use the form below |