Inadequate security at Bamako hotel

Earlier on Friday, a spokeswoman for Quebec’s national assembly said Maxime Carrier-Legare, an employee of the legislature, was also among the freed hostages.

The situation remains both fluid and risky.

A few managed to escape the upscale Radisson Blu, in the capital Bamako, but military officials told The Associated Press that at least three people had been killed.

US special forces were earlier reported to be assisting in the counter-terrorism operation in Mali. The group, Al-Mourabitoun, has claimed responsibility for several other lower-scale attacks in the past.

One of the rescued hostages, celebrated Guinean singer Sekouba “Bambino” Diabate, said he overheard two of the assailants speaking in English.

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

Inadequate security measures were taken in Mali’s capital Bamako, following last week’s Paris attacks explains researcher at the Institute for Security Studies, after gunmen took staff and tourists hostage at a well-known hotel. “They are alone with the Malian special forces who are trying to dislodge them”, spokesman Amadou Sangho said to Reuters. “U.S. forces did not directly participate in the operation”. We commend the bravery of the Malian, French, United Nations, and USA security personnel who responded to the situation and prevented even worse loss of life. Hollande also said that an assault will try to ensure the hostages’ safety. “So the hotel is locked down and there is no possibility to go out or come in”, the source said.

France has more than 1,000 troops in its former colony, a key battleground of Operation Barkhane, a counterterror mission spanning five countries in Africa’s restive Sahel region. Air France later said in a statement 12 members of its crew were at the hotel and were freed. Thirty-two hostages have been released since the incident began, according to the hotel.

Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar”, or “God is great”, in Arabic before firing on the guards and taking hostages. About 20 Indian citizens were in the hotel at the time of the attack but were evacuated safely, the Indian ambassador to Mali said.

The United States condemns in the strongest terms today’s terrorist attack on the many Malian and worldwide guests and employees of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako. The hotel is less than a mile from the US embassy.

Meanwhile, a Chinese guest with the family name Chen told China’s state-run Xinhua news agency that he was among a number of Chinese guests trapped in the hotel. At least three people are confirmed dead and two wounded, while dozens of hostages have been freed.