Malian forces arrested two men linked to a cell phone found at the scene of a deadly hotel attack by militants last week, authorities said Friday.
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On Monday, the Massina Liberation Front, which has been blamed for previous attacks in southern Mali, became the third group to claim responsibility for the siege.
Bullet casings are seen in a helmet on the floor of the Radisson hotel in Bamako, Mali.
The attackers did not say a word to anyone as they opened fire, employee Tamba Couye said.
Malian troops, backed by French and American special forces, swarmed in to retake the building and free terrified guests and hotel staff during a siege that lasted more than seven hours.
“There are two suspects arrested”, Amadou Sangho, spokesman for the ministry, said. There have also been indications that terror group Ansar Dine are responsible for these attacks. In 2013, the French pushed Islamic militants out of Mali’s northern cities and towns although jihadists continue to carry out attacks on United Nations peacekeepers. The individual allegedly even sent telephone credit to the attacker.
It is being considered as the worst jihadist attack on the West African country in years. 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.
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Christophe Monbelli-Valloir, deputy police commissioner for MINUSMA, said on Thursday a team from the FBI had arrived to help the Malian-led investigation.
