Gunmen attack, take hostages in Mali hotel
Reports monitored on the international and social media say a dozen gunmen chanting ‘Allah Akbar’ have attacked a luxury hotel, Radison Blu in the capital of Mali, Bamako and taken about 170 guests and hotel staff hostage.
Malian army, police and Special Forces have stormed the hotel to try and rescue the hostages who include Malian, French, Turkish, Indian and Chinese citizens.
Some hostages have escaped and others have been freed. But there are conflicting reports on how many have been rescued. Initial reports by Malian state media said about 80 hostages have been rescued. But some sources quoting the hotel say, 138 hostages are still being held.
The reports say the men wearing masks entered the hotel premises Friday morning, using a car with a diplomatic license plate.
When they started firing, and shouting “Allah Akbar’ the hotel security fled. Three people are reported to have been killed, two of them hotel security staff and Malian citizens, the other is said to be a French citizen.
Other reports quoting some freed hostages say the gunmen asked some of them to recite verses of the Quran, and those who did were allowed to leave. Some freed hostages have been cited to have said the gunmen spoke English.
France has sent a plane full of Gendarmerie to join in the fight to free the hostages.
The gunmen are believed to belong to the al Qaeda affiliate Ansar al-Din.
Some reports say US Special Forces are also joining in the rescue operation.
By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi