Gunmen take 170 hostages in Radisson hotel in Mali

[txradioguy]

DEVELOPING –  The hotel group which operates the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Mali capital of Bamako confirmed Friday that gunmen have taken 170 hostages. The U.S. Embassy has urged Americans in the area to seek shelter.

The French Embassy reports explosions were heard and local reports say the hostage takers are Muslim jihadists. The number of gunmen was not immediately known.

The hotel group said 140 guests and 30 employees were taken.

The U.S. Embassy said in a statement that it was aware of “an ongoing active shooter operation” at the hotel and that staff has been asked to shelter in place.

Following a military coup in 2012, Islamic extremists took control of northern Mali, prompting a French-led military intervention in early 2013. The extremists were scattered from northern towns and cities, though the north remains insecure and militant attacks have extended farther south this year.

In March masked gunmen shot up a Bamako restaurant popular with foreigners, killing five people.

About 1,000 French troops remain in the country.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2015/11/20/mali-hotel-attack/

[BlueStateSaint]

Gunmen released some of the hostages if they could recite verses of the Koran.

I wonder what the background of the terrorists is . . .

The reports are saying that there's three dead in the assault.

[BlueStateSaint]

Updates--between 2 and 12 gunmen, 200 hostages, at least 3 dead--one Frenchman and two Mali citizens, the Mali Special Forces have surrounded the hotel.

[txradioguy]

Updates--between 2 and 12 gunmen, 200 hostages, at least 3 dead--one Frenchman and two Mali citizens, the Mali Special Forces have surrounded the hotel.

"This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it."

[Ken8521]

 

Prayers for all involved.  Could you imagine if we had a LEADER?

Fox is reporting the US Military is already on scene... I'm guessing either Seals, Delta, or 75th Rangers.... that part of the world is always ready to explode, so not particularly surprising we were close... but I'm sure the conspiracy theories on DU will start any time.  At least Dick Cheney and GW weren't visiting the Embassy.

[txradioguy]

Reports coming in now that there are American hostages in the Hotel.

[DLR Pyro]

Gunmen released some of the hostages if they could recite verses of the Koran.

And obama will continue to embarrass himself and insult our intelligence by insisting these terrorists are not islamic

[Ptarmigan]

About 27 dead after Islamists seize hotel in Mali's capital
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/gunmen-attack-luxury-hotel-mali-capital-hostages-084238110.html

BAMAKO (Reuters) - Around 27 people were reported dead on Friday after Malian commandos stormed a hotel seized by Islamist gunmen to rescue 170 people, many of them foreigners, trapped in the building.

The jihadist group Al Mourabitoun, which is based in the desert north of the former French colony, claimed responsibility for the attack and said it worked with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Mali has been battling Islamist rebels for years.

 A security source said the siege was over by around 4 p.m. local time (1630 GMT) and two militants were dead.

The Islamists are getting more active.