Islamic extremists armed with guns and throwing grenades stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali’s capital Friday morning, killing at least three people and initially taking numerous hostages, authorities said.
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Israel’s Ynet news website named him as Shmuel Ben Hillel, but gave no further details.
The USA military’s Africa Command says the rescued hostages include six American citizens. United Nations and Malian security forces launched a counterattack and, by afternoon, attackers were the only ones believed to still be inside the hotel.
Lt Col Diarran Kone, an adviser with Mali’s defense ministry, says it is not yet clear what has happened. “These were innocent people who had everything to live for”.
One senior security source and celebrated Guinean singer Sékouba “Bambino” Diabate, who was a guest at the hotel, told Reuters he had overheard two of the assailants speaking English as they searched the room adjacent to his. “We are prepared to assist the Malian government in the coming days as it investigates this tragic terrorist attack”.
Mali’s President cut short a visit to Chad and declared a 10-day state of emergency while French President Francois Hollande said France would “yet again stand firm and show our solidarity” with its former colony, promising to send extra troops to boost the 1,000 now there. Shooting and blasts rocked the building, where 170 people were held hostage for hours. An extremist group known as the Mourabitounes, which split from al-Qaida’s North Africa branch several years ago, has claimed responsibility for the attack, the AP reported.
Dozens of people were reported to have escaped or been freed, but at least three were dead.
The guests at the sprawling, cream-and-pink luxury hotel came from many countries, but the attack was perceived by many in France, particularly in the government, as a new attack on French interests.
Mali’s President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, has announced on state television that 21 people, including two militants, were killed and seven others wounded in Friday’s attack.
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Besides police and Malian military, special forces of the gendarmerie were deployed, as well as members of Minusma and the French force barkhane, with support from United States forces.
