“Mali declared a ten-day state of emergency following the Attack+Hotel+in+Mali’s+Capital%2C+Attempt+to+Take+Hostages” hostage siege, which took place at a hotel in the capital Bamako on Friday.
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Heavily armed Islamic extremists seized dozens of hostages Friday at a Radisson hotel, but Malian troops, backed by US and French special forces, swarmed in to retake the building and free numerous terrified captives.
A United States national was also killed, and US President Barack Obama said the attack was yet another reminder that the “scourge of terrorism” threatened many nations.
At least three hostages were killed Friday as jihadists besieged a luxury hotel in the capital Bamako, the country’s security ministry said, adding that security forces were now storming the establishment…
A security source told AFP that authorities are “actively pursuing” at least three people.
Nationals from Belgium, the USA, China and Russian Federation were among the victims, according to official statements.
Announcing the death toll, the president said two militants had also been killed.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon decried the “horrific terrorist attack” and said the violence was aimed at derailing the implementation of a June peace agreement between rival factions.
Xi called on “relevant departments” to strengthen security work “outside of China’s borders”, the Foreign Ministry cited Xi as saying in a statement on its website.
The gunmen entered the hotel, which houses 190 rooms and sheltered 140 people of different nationalities, on a vehicle with diplomatic plate, said Traore.
Northern Mali has been unstable since it fell to Tuareg separatists and Islamic extremists following a military coup in 2012.
Price said that the U.S. “stands with the people of Mali” and “prepared to assist the Malian government as it investigate the tragic terrorist attack”.
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The attack came as fears mount over threats a week after 130 people died in the Paris attacks claimed by IS group, which also said it had downed a Russian passenger jet in Egypt on October 31.
