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United Nations chief condemns ‘horrific terrorist attack’ in Mali

The group said the two were the only assailants in the attack that killed 19 people.

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The statement said they were the only two who carried out the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, which claimed 19 lives.

The attack has been claimed by two separate jihadist groups and a manhunt launched for three suspects.

Israeli media had reported one dead, but the Malian source was not able to confirm this report.

The victims included six Russians, three Chinese, two Belgians, an American, a Senegalese and a member of the Malian special forces.

The United Nations peacekeeping force in Mali, MINUSMA, however spoke of 22 fatalities, including two attackers. Guinea, Mauritania and Senegal may also observe the remembrance with their West African neighbor.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the “horrific terrorist attack” on Friday at a luxury hotel in Mali and indicated the violence was aimed at destroying peace efforts in the country.

An al-Qaeda-affiliated group later claimed responsibility.

In August, they stormed a hotel in central Mali in August, killing at least 12 people in an attack similar to Friday’s. They shot “at anything that moved” as terrified patrons dashed for cover all over the hotel, he said.

In a recording broadcast by Al-Jazeera, a spokesman identified them as Abdelhakim al-Ansari and Moez al-Ansari, the term “al-Ansari” indicating they were indigenous jihadists.

Authorities are now “actively pursuing” at least three people over the attack in the former French colony.

Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda seized the desert north of Mali in 2012 following a separatist uprising but were scattered by a French military operation the following year.

“Mali will never be alone”, Mr Sall said.

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In the absence of clear information, analysts have speculated on other possible motives, including a desire to disrupt Mali’s fragile local peace process or a wish by al-Qaida to demonstrate its relevance amid high-profile attacks by its rival, the Islamic State group.

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