At least two armed men attacked the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on Friday in a raid.
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“Two suspects linked to the attack last week at the Radisson hotel have just been arrested and they are being interrogated”, one of the sources said.
The siege ended hours later when Malian commandos stormed the hotel and freed 170 hostages.
Security analysts say they may be collaborating.
On Saturday, twitter users who apparently were Al-Qaeda members and supporters started bashing rival terror group, Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, for carrying out jihadist operations in irresponsible manner, and it was the Qaeda affiliated al-Mourabitoun which exhibited true jihad in Mali.
One of those arrested had been in touch with one of the gunmen since August, according to a source close to the investigation.
Two gunmen were killed at the scene.
“It is only after question that we’ll learn whether the second defendant sells telephone credit or is an accomplice”, said the source, requesting anonymity. The U.S. embassy in Bamako has hinted the possibility of “further terrorist activity in the capital”, warning that its citizens avoid public places like shopping centres, bars and restaurants.
Since the Radisson hotel strike, Malian forces have started nighttime patrols alongside United Nations forces and searched several private homes as part of a package of emergency measures.
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Germany’s defense minister on Wednesday said the country wanted to send 650 soldiers to Mali to support the mission, which now boasts only 10 German soldiers.
