Mali hotel hostage taking

[Michael K.]

Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako
Picture: AFP/Getty

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/12006988/Mali-Bamako-terrorist-attack-170-hostages-Paris-live.html#update-20151120-1112
By Isabelle Fraser
11:27AM GMT 20 Nov 2015

Mali hotel attack: gunmen hold 170 hostage at Radisson Blu as third body found at Paris terrorist lair - live

One week on from Paris attacks, 10 gunman are believed to be inside the hotel and have used grenades. Follow all the latest news from Mali, Paris and the rest of Europe as police continue hunt for terror suspects

• At least three dead in terror attack in Mali's capital where French and UN troops are stationed
• 170 taken hostage at Radisson hotel by men screaming 'Allahu Akbar'
• Gunmen freeing hostages who can recite verses from Qur'an
• Third body of terrorist found in Paris raid flat
• Eighth suspected terrorist still on the loose
• Summary of events In Europe so far this morning

The UN force in Mali has just posed a statement on Twitter just now:

"The special representative of the UN Secretary General and the UN force in Mali together denounce the terrorist attack taking place at a Bamako hotel.

"The UN force in Mali is at this moment supporting the Malian authorities with security reinforcements as well as medics at the site.

"The special representative of the UN Secretary General extends his condolences to the people affected by this attack."

The Foreign Office has warned against all travel to Mali since March 2012.

There have already been several incidents in 2015, including two in which foreigners were targeted.

• On March 6, there was a terrorist attack on the restaurant La Terrasse in the capital, Bamako. Five people, including two Europeans, were killed and nine were injured.

• On August 7, there was an attack by armed men in the town of Sévare in the Mopti region. The attack lasted several hours, including a siege at a local hotel. Twelve people died, including two foreign nationals.

• On June 10, there was an attack by armed men on Malian security forces in the town of Misseni, near the border with Ivory Coast.

Special forces launch assault

Malian media reporting that the country's special forces have launched an assault on the hotel. Local television reporting the presence of foreign forces on the security cordon outside the hotel, most likely from MINUSMA, the UN force made up of multiple nationalities.

African news website Jeune Afrique reports that three UN employees were at the Radisson, and were evacuated.

A UN source also told Jeune Afrique that American special forces are in the hotel as well - though this cannot be confirmed. The site also said that UN are helping Malian security.

David Chazan reports that about 7,000 French nationals live in Mali.

Three of the seven Turkish airlines staff taken hostage have also escaped, according to reports.

[Michael K.]

http://matzav.com/138-hostages-inside-mali-hotel/

Matzav: The Jewish World at your fingertips.

138 Hostages Inside Mali Hotel Held By English-Speaking Terrorists ...

Guinean singer [er...performer] who was among the hostages in Bamako said he overheard the gunmen talking to each other in English. Sékouba "Bambino" Diabate told Reuters: "I heard them say in English 'Did you load it?' 'Let's go'... I wasn't able to see them because in these kinds of situations it's hard."

[Michael K.]

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