Gunmen hold 170 hostage at Mali hotel, three killed

Le Point was reporting that one of those killed was French, but this has not been confirmed.

This is a developing story, with conflicting information being reported; we’ll update as news emerges from Mali.

Hostages who could recite from the Koran have been released, a security source told Reuters.

Two workers for Turkish Airlines and as many as 10 Chinese nationals are thought to be among the hostages.

These nationals are employees of a Dubai-based company and were staying in the hotel permanently, he added.

And in August, 17 people were killed during an attack on a hotel in Sevare in central Mali, a few 600 km (375 miles) northeast of Bamako, that was claimed by the Sahara-based Islamist militant group al-Mourabitoun. It is not known if they are linked in any way.

The hotel was surrounded by security forces.

Belgian foreign minister Didier Reynders said four Belgians were registered at the hotel but their whereabouts were unknown.

He says at least 30 hostages have been freed already and that Malian security forces are trying to make contact with the assailants.

The soldiers stormed the hotel to end a daylong siege that started when gunmen raided the hotel after attacking a military site nearby, witnesses said.

Still image from video show a hostage rushed out from the Radisson hotel in Bamako, Mali, on Friday. “But we shall make one soon”, the diplomat told The Hindu.

The guests at the sprawling, cream-and-pink colored luxury hotel, which has 190 rooms and features a spa, outdoor pool and ballroom, came from many countries.

The chain has said it was working to establish the names and nationalities of those taken.

Mali’s state-run broadcaster reports that special forces had stormed a luxury hotel, freeing many hostages held by suspected Islamist gunmen.

The French embassy told its citizens in Bamako to take shelter wherever they are.

USA special operations forces also are helping, a US military spokesman said. “United States citizens should adhere to the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media”.

January 11: The French military launch Operation Serval to back the Malian army and drive back the Islamists, who are pushing south towards Bamako. They occupied legendary Timbuktu and other towns and cities for almost a year. No person or group claimed responsibility for this attack and the identities as well as affiliations of the attackers was still not clear.

France has 3,500 troops operating in Mali and four other countries in the Sahel region as part of a five-nation counterterrorism operation codenamed Barkhane.

Malian special forces responded in an attempt to free the hostages.

A famous Guinean singer who was among the people taken hostage said he heard attackers in the next room speaking English.