Nine dead as jihadi gunmen storm Mali hotel 'where Air France crew stay'

– Security forces storm besieged hotel
– 170 being held: 140 guests, 30 staff
– 80 hostages 'who can recite Koran' freed
– Islamic extremists Ansar al-Din behind attack

Troops outside Radisson Hotel

SECURITY forces have entered a hotel where Islamist gunmen armed with grenades have killed nine people and taken 170 people hostage. Around ten terrorists arrived at the Radisson Hotel - where Air France staff are known to stay - in Mali's capital Bamako at 7am and started shooting on the seventh floor.

Forces outside hotel

Members of the Ansar al-Din - translated to 'Supporters of Religion' - terror group entered shouting "allahu akbar" and explosions were heard, according to news reports.

 Gunmen allowed hostages who could recite verses of the Koran to escape, security sources said.

Local reports say the hostage situation is "close to being under control". At least three people, two Malian and one French national, are reported dead by France24.

Ansar al-Din is an "extremist military group that seeks to implement Islamic Sharia in Mali", according to Qatari Al Jazeera TV. Among the hostages are French military, Air France employees and Thales personnel. Turkish Airlines say that of the six members of their staff held hostage in the hotel, three have been freed. And officials in China say there are seven Chinese nationals being held hostage.

Freed hostages

Crew from France's national airline often stay on the seventh floor, a French newspaper has reported.
The attack comes just a week after IS gunmen went on the rampage in Paris killing 132 people.


France stationed around 1,000 troops in the country - a former French colony - after Islamic extremists took control of northern Mali in 2012.

A senior security source said: "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." It is unclear at this stage if any Brits are in the hotel.

A member of staff who gave his name as Tamba Diarra told Sky News over the phone the attackers used grenades in the assault. Michael Skapoullis, who witnessed the attack, told the BBC: "I left the gym and went to the lobby. I opened the door and saw bullets on the ground."

A spokesperson for the hotel said: "The Rezidor Hotel Group... is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20th November 2015.

"As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees." A Mali army commander says 10 gunmen are in the hotel. A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are in contact with local authorities and urgently seeking further information following reports of an incident at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali.

“The Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Mali for some time.”