Mali arrests two after deadly hotel attack

Malian forces arrested two men linked to a cell phone found at the scene of a deadly hotel attack by militants last week, authorities said Friday. Mali investigators have already explained that they are searching for several people involved in the shooting who aided at least two gunmen who took 170 hostages in the hotel before killing 22 of them.

Two gunmen armed with Kalashnikov assault rifles and explosives stormed the hotel before 7 am on November 20, striking just as security guards were about to change shifts. Special forces – including Malian, French and two USA soldiers who were also in the area – staged a dramatic floor-by-floor rescue, ending the siege after about nine hours. It was reported that the suspects were brought in for interrogation after a lead was discovered in one of the attacker’s mobile phones. The individual allegedly even sent telephone credit to the attacker. Other francophone countries within Africa that have close ties with France may also be hit soon.

The U.S. embassy in Bamako has warned of the possibility of “further terrorist activity in the capital” and advised its citizens to avoid bars, restaurants and shopping centres.

In 2013, the French pushed the Islamic extremists out of cities and towns though they continue to carry out attacks on United Nations peacekeepers. On Thursday, Christophe Monbelli-Valloir, deputy police commissioner for MINUSMA, stated that a team from the FBI were deployed to help the Malian-led investigation.