Gunmen attacked a luxury hotel frequented by foreigners in Mali’s capital Bamako early on Friday and are believed to be holding hostages, a senior source with the security forces and witnesses told Reuters.
But CNN is reporting that “There are 170 people being held hostage inside the Radisson Blu Hotel, said Olivier Saldago, a spokesman for MINUSMA (United Nations Stabilization Mission in Multidimensional Integrated Mali).
The raid targeted the Radisson Blu hotel, located just west of the city center in a neighborhood that is home to government ministries and diplomats, they said.
Northern Mali was occupied by Islamist fighters, some with links to al Qaeda, for most of 2012. Although they were driven out by a French-led military operation, sporadic violence continues.
“Very early in the morning there was gunfire. Apparently it’s an attempt to take hostages. The police are there and are sealing off the area,” the security source said.
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