Gunman Attack Radisson Hotel In Mali

“Everything is being done to follow the tracks” of the suspects, the source said, declining to give further details to avoid compromising the investigation.

Malian soldiers, police and special forces were on the scene as a security perimeter was set up, along with members of the UN’s MINUSMA peacekeeping force in Mali and the French troops fighting jihadists in west Africa under Operation Barkhane.

Following a Cabinet session presided over by President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, the government declared a state of emergency across the nation starting at midnight Friday for 10 days, a statement issued by the government said.

“Some people were freed by the attackers after showing they could recite verses from the Koran, while others were brought out by security forces or managed to escape under their own steam”, Reuters added.

Three people are now reported dead by the military. But Mali has faced repeated attacks from militants affiliated with al-Qaeda and other factions.

The United States has condemned the terrorist attack on a luxurious hotel in Mali, saying it is ready to help the Malian government to investigate the “tragic” assault.

His French counterpart Francois Hollande said: “We should yet again stand firm and show our solidarity with a friendly country, Mali”.

Jihadist Al-Murabitoun group based in northern Mali has claimed responsibility for the hotel attack. A staffer at the hotel who gave his name as Tamba Diarra said over the phone that the attackers used grenades in the assault. A handful of jihadi groups seized the northern half of Mali in 2012 but were ousted from cities and towns by a French military intervention.

“They now have no more hostages in their hands and forces are in the process of tracking them down”, security minister Salif Traore told a news conference following a stand-off of several hours at Bamako’s Radisson Blu.

Malian Defense Ministry increased the death toll to five people, including three hostages and two security forces.

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 US State Department has confirmed that an American citizen is among 27 people killed.

One witness told CNN the gunmen arrived in a diplomatic vehicle and opened fire as they entered the hotel for “several long minutes”.

The USA and French embassies asked their citizens to take shelter where they are in Bamako.