Two al Qaeda allies claim responsibility for hotel attack in Mali

In addition to an American public health worker murdered in a terrorist raid on a luxury hotel in Mali’s capital on Friday, the 19 dead included six Russians, three Chinese, two Belgians and an Israeli national.

According to the Guardian, Keita described his country as the latest to join the global struggle against extremism as he declared a three-day mourning period after the deadly hotel siege.

After the incident, Malian security forces are hunting down more than three persons who are responsible for the attack.

The council said in a statement that it expressed its deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims of this attack and to the government of Mali, as well as to all governments whose citizens were targeted in this attack. They were driven out by a French-led military operation, but violence has continued.

The assault began around 0700 GMT on Friday, when gunmen pulled up at the hotel at same time as a vehicle with diplomatic plates and starting shooting their way inside, taking guests and staff hostage.

Mali troops, working with U.S. Special Forces and a unit from the French military, responded quickly to the overrun hotel.

“The hostage-taking is over”.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, and the identities or affiliation of the assailants was not clear.

The group, known as the Mourabitounes, was formed in 2013 after Belmoktar left al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and joined with a Malian militant group. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he was not aware of any French nationals killed in the attacks. USA forces were also involved in helping to free the hostages.

– Attackers “spoke English” -The palatial 190-room Radisson, regarded as one of west Africa’s best hotels, is a favourite with entrepreneurs, tourists and government officials from across the world.

“We didn’t see the jihadists until they started firing on us”, a hotel guard told the AP.

But the security ministry said gunmen continued to hold out against special forces on the top floors of the seven-storey building. Hillel was in Mali on business when the attack occurred that saw over two dozen people murdered.

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.

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