Special forces in Mali have entered a Radisson Blu hotel in the capital city where gunmen had taken 140 guests and 30 employees hostage Friday morning. The Rezidor Hotel group, which owns the Radisson, said in a statement released three hours after the siege began that 125 guests and 13 employees were still in the building. The West African country's army commander Modibo Nama Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting "Allahu Akbar" or "God is great" in Arabic before firing on the guards and taking hostages, including an known number of French citizens. A military official in Mali confirmed to the Associated Press that three people are confirmed dead. The identity of gunmen or the group that they belong to is not yet known.
In this TV image taken from Mali TV ORTM, a woman is led away by security personnel .
Image: Mali TV ORTM/Associated Press
Air France said 12 of its crew members were staying in the hotel, which is located 15 minutes from the city's main airport, however all have been freed. In a statement, the airline provided details and said that additional planned flights to Bamako were cancelled on Friday. "Air France has stayed in permanent contact with its teams (2 pilots and 10 cabin crew) present at the moment of the events. The totality of the team is now in a secure place," read the statement. "All the Air France teams are mobilised and the crisis unit are engaging their solidarity with everyone concerned/affected by this attack." French President Francois Hollande offered the country's support saying, "We should yet again stand firm and show our solidarity with a friendly country, Mali." Six Turkish Airlines employees are among the hostages, according to the state-run Anadolu Agency in Turkey, which cited diplomatic sources. Three were reported to have been released. There are at least seven Chinese hostages, according to Xinhua. One of the hostages told a Xinhua reporter via a WeChat text message that there were gunshots heard through the corridors, and smoke seen in the rooms. The Ministry of External Affairs in India said 20 Indians were among the hostages. The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) is assisting the army with the operation. A staffer at the Radisson Blu hotel told the Associated Press over the phone that the attackers used grenades in the assault. The U.S. Embassy in Mali asked citizens to shelter amid reports of an "ongoing active shooter operation." Mali's president acknowledged the attack on Twitter. Rezidor Hotel Group, which operates the premises, confirmed the attack in a statement, saying gunmen "locked in" the 170 people.
A photo from the hotel's website.
Image: Radisson
"Our safety & security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order offer any support possible to re-instate safety and security at the hotel. At this point we do not have further information and continue to closely monitor the situation," they added. The hotel has 190 rooms, seven meeting rooms, a spa, pool and a 500-meter ballroom. It's located west of Bamako's city centre near a number of businesses and government offices. "With beautifully equipped guest rooms, outdoor swimming pool, extensive wellness centre and a Spa 'Mamiwata', the hotel is one of Bamako’s most sought after hotels," Radisson says in a promotional brochure.
A room in the Radisson Blu, Bamako as featured in a promotional video.
