Islamist gunmen stormed a luxury hotel packed with foreigners in Mali's capital Bamako on Friday, taking 170 hostages in a former French colony that has been battling rebels allied to al Qaeda for several years.
A senior security source said some of the hostages had been freed after being made to recite verses from the Koran. The French newspaper Le Monde quoted the Malian security ministry as saying at least three hostages had been killed.
The raid on the Radisson Blu hotel, which lies just west of the city centre near government ministries and diplomatic offices in the former French colony, comes a week after Islamic State militants killed 129 people in Paris.
The identity of the Bamako gunmen, or the group to which they belong, is not known. Read more.
The raid on the Radisson Blu hotel, which lies just west of the city centre near government ministries and diplomatic offices in the former French colony, comes a week after Islamic State militants killed 129 people in Paris.
The identity of the Bamako gunmen, or the group to which they belong, is not known. Read more.
Malian special forces entered the Radisson Blu in the capital Bamako on Friday after Islamist gunmen attacked the luxury hotel and took hostages, a witness and a police source said.
"They've penetrated inside the hotel. The operations are under way," the police source said.
Eighty hostages held by Islamist gunmen have been freed from a luxury hotel in Mali's capital as government special forces moved floor by floor to clear the building, Mali's state broadcaster and a security source.
"The attackers are still inside. We're hearing gunfire from time to time," said a witness outside the Radisson Blu hotel.
Islamic Gunmen Storm Luxury Hotel In Mali Capital, Take 170 Hostage; French, US Special Foreces Follow - Live Feed
Less than a week since the Friday 13th Paris terror attack, hours ago the newswires lit up with news of another terrorist attack at least 10 gunmen shouting and screaming "Allahu Akbar" attacked the Radisson Blu, a luxury hotel full of foreigners, in Mali's capital Bamako, taking 170 people hostage. The identity of the Bamako gunmen, or the group to which they belong, is not known
Islamic Gunmen Storm Luxury Hotel In Mali Capital, Take 170 Hostage; French, US Special Foreces Follow - Live Feed
Less than a week since the Friday 13th Paris terror attack, hours ago the newswires lit up with news of another terrorist attack at least 10 gunmen shouting and screaming "Allahu Akbar" attacked the Radisson Blu, a luxury hotel full of foreigners, in Mali's capital Bamako, taking 170 people hostage. The identity of the Bamako gunmen, or the group to which they belong, is not known
Update 7:04 am
A second assault is in course in the Radisson hotel, lead by US and French special forces according to Conflict News.
Update 6:56 am
AFP reports that eighty hostages freed in Mali hotel siege citing local TV, while CNN adds that the Mali hotel attackers arrived in vehicle(s) with diplomatic plates, had AK-47s - U.N. spokesman.
Update: 6:45 am
Reuters reports that roughly three hours since the siege began, Malian special forces entered the Radisson Blu in the capital Bamako on Friday after Islamist gunmen attacked the luxury hotel and took hostages, a witness and a police source said. "They've penetrated inside the hotel. The operations are under way," the police source said.
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