Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking.
BAMAKO - AFP reports that three people have been killed in the Mali hotel seige.
Reports indicate that security forces have freed around eighty hostages from the hotel after it was attacked by jihadists.
The attackers launched a shooting rampage in the Radisson Blu hotel in the centre of the Malian capital Bamako on Friday, security sources and an AFP journalist said.
Gunmen storm Mali hotel shouting "Allahu Akbar" before taking 170 hostages https://t.co/2eI4Cfco1j pic.twitter.com/Z0ZKuk3qPc
— The Evening Times (@TheEveningTimes) November 20, 2015
Some reports say some of those released were able to recite verses from the Koran.
Two people have "locked in" 140 guests and 30 employees in an ongoing hostage-taking , the hotel chain said in a statement on Friday.
GUNMEN ENTERED RADISSON BLU HOTEL IN MALI CAPITAL, SHOOTING AND SCREAMING "ALLAHU AKBAR" - SENIOR SECURITY SOURCE Bamako
— Reuters Africa (@ReutersAfrica) November 20, 2015
"The Rezidor Hotel Group... is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20th November 2015. As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees," the company said.Automatic weapons fire could be heard from outside the 190-room hotel, where security forces have set up a security cordon.
"It&39;s all happening on the seventh floor, jihadists are firing in the corridor," a security source told AFP.
Firs images from Bamako where gunmen have at least 170 persons hostage Radisson Blu Hotel Mali pic.twitter.com/hhQQyFnE9V
— Carmen M.Fernandez (@fdzCarmenM_) November 20, 2015
An attack on a restaurant in the capital of Mali in May saw four people killed, including two Malians, a citizen of France and a citizen of Belgium.
Mali update according to msg sent out by France embassy a hostage situation incl explosion and shooting is ongoing on Radisson Bamako
— Tonton du Bled (@NextDoorArab) November 20, 2015
The shooting follows a nearly 24-hour siege and hostage-taking at another hotel in August in the central Malian town of Sevare.
Four soldiers, five UN workers and four attackers were killed.
SECURITY MESSSAGE (1/4) The Embassy is aware of an ongoing active shooter operation at the Radisson Hotel.
— U.S. Embassy Bamako (@USEmbassyMali) November 20, 2015
Islamist groups have continued to wage attacks in Mali despite a June peace deal between former Tuareg rebels in the north of the country and rival pro-government armed groups.
Northern Mali fell in March-April 2012 to Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist groups long concentrated in the area before being ousted by an ongoing French-led military operation launched in January 2013.
Despite the peace deal, large swathes of Mali remain beyond the control of government and foreign forces.
