Mali: Terrorists Attack Hotel, Take Hundreds as Hostages

Local Editor

Gunmen have launched an attack on the Radisson Hotel in the center of Mali's capital, Bamako and are rumored to be holding hostages.

A local security source told media that: "Apparently it's an attempt to take hostages. The policemen are there and are sealing off the area."

Witnesses said the police have surrounded the hotel and are blocking roads leading into the neighborhood.

On its part, the Rezidor Hotel Group, owner of the Radisson, said it was aware of "the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today."

Furthermore, media sources informed that two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees.

Two attackers have taken 170 people hostage inside the hotel, the group that runs the hotel said.

"The Rezidor hotel group, which manages the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, understands that a hostage-taking is under way at the site today," the group said in a statement quoted by the BBC.

A security source reported that militants are firing in the corridor of the seventh floor. The shooting follows a nearly 24-hour siege and hostage-taking at another hotel in August in the central Malian town of Sevare.

Meanwhile, extremist groups are continuing to wage attacks in Mali despite a June peace deal between former Tuareg rebels in the north of the country and rival pro-government armed groups.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team