This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/21/world/africa/mali-hotel-attack-radisson.html

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Hostages Seized in Attack on Radisson Hotel in Mali Hostages Seized in Attack on Radisson Hotel in Mali; at Least 3 Die
(35 minutes later)
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. BAMAKO, Mali — At least two gunmen stormed a Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali, on Friday morning, seized 140 guests and 30 staff members as hostages, killing at least three people.
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. An operation to rescue the remaining hostages was underway amid indications that the hostage takers had been releasing Muslims and continuing to hold non-Muslims.
Gary Ellis, the manager, 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. Soldiers could be seen roaming inside the hotel and on the roof, according to Pantap Barry, a street bike racer, who was standing outside the hotel. Colonel Major Salif Traoré, the minister of the security and civil protection, said the military had evacuated around 30 people to a gymnasium near the hotel. The identities of the three people killed wereunknown, he said.
Gen. Didier Dacko of the Mali Army said the perimeter of the hotel had been sealed and that soldiers were “inside looking for the terrorists.”
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.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.
General Dacko said the number of hostage-takers was unclear, saying there were perhaps four or five.
Two members of the Malian security forces were wounded by shots fired from the seventh floor of the hotel and were taken away by ambulance, according to Amadou Sidibé, a reporter for the Malian newspaper Les Echos, who was near the scene Friday morning.
The streets near the hotel had been blocked off by security forces that included the United Nations peacekeeping force, the Malian Army and the French intelligence service.
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.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.
Xinhua, China’s state-run news agency, reported that “numerous” Chinese tourists were staying at the hotel.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.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. The Shabab, a Qaeda affiliate in East Africa, used a similar approach in the attack at the Westgate Mall in Nairobi in 2013.Those who could recite the declaration, the Shahada, were allowed to leave the hotel. The Shabab, a Qaeda affiliate in East Africa, used a similar approach in the 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.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.
A hostage, who did not want to be named, told a friend in Bamako that a group of people was trapped on the roof of the hotel, along with the body of one person who had died in the attack. “We were just evacuated from the hotel by security forces, I know that there are a lot of people inside right now,” one hostage who made their way to safety told France24 television. “I saw bodies in the lobby. What is happening right now is really horrible.”
The hostage told a friend in the Ivory Coast with whom he had been communicating that the French consulate had told hostages by text message to stay put and wait for a military assault planned by a United Nations force, the Malian Army and the French intelligence service. “I was hidden in my room barely a couple minutes, a couple seconds ago and someone shouted, telling us to get out, my door was smashed open, the security forces arrived,” he hostage added.
Another hostage of French nationality, who did not want to be named, told a friend in Bamako that a group of people was trapped on the roof of the hotel, along with the body of one person who had died in the attack. The hostage told the friend that the French consulate had told hostages by text message to stay put and wait for a military assault.
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.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 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.”“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. 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 through 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.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.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.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.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.