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Hostages Seized in Attack on Radisson Hotel in Mali Hostages Seized in Attack on Radisson Hotel in Mali
(about 1 hour later)
DAKAR, Senegal — Two gunmen stormed a Radisson Hotel in Bamako, Mali, on Friday morning and seized 170 hostages, the hotel manager told Agence France-Presse. BAMAKO, Mali — At least two gunmen stormed a Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali, on Friday morning and seized 140 guests and 30 staff members as hostages, according to the company that runs the hotel, though some were quickly released.
A phone call to the Radisson was answered, but only sirens wailing in the background could be heard. The number of people killed was unclear, but the manager of hotel said perhaps three people were dead, and there were indications that the hostage takers were releasing Muslims and continuing to hold non-Muslims.
“The Embassy is aware of an ongoing active shooter operation at the Radisson Hotel,” the United States Embasy in Bamako said in a statement. “The U.S. Embassy staff has been asked to shelter in place. All U.S. citizens should shelter in place. Private U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact their family. Monitor local media for updates. U.S. citizens should adhere to the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media.” Gary Ellis, the manager of the hotel, said that 90 percent of the staff had been able to leave, and that it was unclear how many people were still in the hotel.
Northern Mali fell under the control of Islamist militants in 2012, but a French-led offensive ousted them in 2013. Northern Mali fell under the control of Islamist militants in 2012, but a French-led offensive ousted them in 2013, though remnants of the group have staged a number of attacks on United Nations peacekeepers and Malian forces.
Remnants of the group have staged a number of attacks on United Nations peacekeepers and Malian forces. The hotel is a popular place for foreigners to stay in Bamako, a city with a population approaching two million, and French and American citizens were among those taken hostage.
In August, jihadists stormed a hotel in Sevare, north of the capital, where United Nations staff members were staying, seizing hostages and killing at least five Malian soldiers and a United Nations contractor. Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, reported that “numerous” Chinese tourists were staying at the hotel.
Kassim Traoré, a Malian journalist who was in a building about 50 meters from the Radisson, said the attackers asked hostages to recite a declaration of Muslim faith as a way separating Muslims from non-Muslims.
Those who could recite the declaration, the Shahada, were allowed to leave the hotel. Al Qaeda used a similar approach in an attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013.
Some of those who left, which included people from Mali and foreigners, were not wearing any clothes as they were taken to a police station.
Kamissoko Lassine, the chief pastry chef of the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, said that two armed men arrived at the hotel between 7 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.
“They were driving a vehicle with diplomatic plates,” he said. “You know how easy that is at the hotel? The guardians just lifted the barrier.”
“They opened fire and wounded the guard at the front,” said Mr. Lassine, who said he was able to slip out a back door and make it home safely. “They took the hotel hostage and moved people into a big hall.”
Xinhua reported that a Chinese guest, whom it identified only as Mr. Chen, said that he heard several gunshots, and that smoke started to appear in the corridor outside his room. He tried to reach the front desk but no one answered, Mr. Chen told Xinhua though WeChat, a popular messaging service.
The Rezidor Hotel Group, the operator of the Radisson Blu Hotel Bamako, said it was in contact with the local authorities, and the United States Embassy said it was aware of the situation and issued a warning to staff members and American citizens to shelter in place.
A member of the United Nations peacekeeping force in Mali, who asked not to be identified, said there were many French people in the hotel, including Air France staff, along with a delegation for the International Organization of French Speakers.
There was no formal claim of responsibility, but supporters of the Islamic State were posting on Twitter in celebration of the attacks under the hashtags #IslamicState, #ParisIsBurning and #Mali_Is_Burning.
In August, jihadists stormed a hotel in Sévaré, north of the capital, where United Nations staff members were staying, seizing hostages and killing at least five Malian soldiers and a United Nations contractor.