Mali has been placed under a ten-day state of emergency after hundreds were taken hostage at a luxury hotel in its capital city. At least 20 people
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Mali has been placed under a ten-day state of emergency after hundreds were taken hostage at a luxury hotel in its capital city.
At least 20 people died when assailants stormed the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, which is popular with foreign clients.
One US citizen and three Chinese nationals have so far been identified as among those killed.
President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita also declared a three-day period of national mourning.
Le Pdt #IBK a décrété l'état d'urgence sur toute l'étendue du territoire national pour dix jours à compter du vendredi 20 novembre 2015
— Presidence Mali (@PresidenceMali) November 21, 2015
MALI | Dans la foulée, le Conseil des ministres extraordinaire a décrété un deuil national de trois jours à partir du lundi 23 novembre 2015
— Presidence Mali (@PresidenceMali) November 21, 2015
How the siege unfolded
170 guests and staff were taken hostage.
Eyewitnesses say the assailants went from floor to floor, releasing anyone who could recite verses of the Koran.
Malian security forces stormed the building after several hours and flushed out the alleged members of Al Mourabitoun.
The al Qaeda-linked group says it was behind the attack.
Mali/FLASH: Al-Mourabitoun claims responsibility for the attack in the hotel in Bamako https://t.co/Rt9jdBqF0b
— ESISC (@EsiscTeam) 20 Novembre 2015
Mokhtar Belmokhtar and al Mourabitoun
The hotel attack has put militant leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar back in the spotlight, months after he was reported killed.
He is the head of Al Mourabitoun, described by French Defence Minister Jean Yves le Drian as a mixture of fundamentalists and criminals.
He has told media the Algerian-based Belmokhtar was probably behind the attack.
In pictures
Malian security services gather outside the hotel
.
alexis_ok</a> on the intensifying terror campaigns throughout Africa: <a href="https://t.co/KUfOqrjWxW">https://t.co/KUfOqrjWxW</a></p>— The New Yorker (NewYorker) 21 Novembre 2015
US State Department confirms one American is among at least 19 people killed in Mali hotel attack: https://t.co/wS0eoMNhke
— The Associated Press (@AP) 20 Novembre 2015
Hostage takers inside the Radisson Blu
At least 27 dead in #Mali hotel siege: https://t.co/SzJAI0gn34 pic.twitter.com/Kh6qMRdlmr
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) 20 Novembre 2015
Mali hotel siege ends leaving 27 dead, US reports https://t.co/OzPUJ8imSz
— The Independent (@Independent) 20 Novembre 2015
People run for their lives
Militant group Al Mourabitoun claims Mali hotel assault #MaliSiege https://t.co/lbvT6oiGRH pic.twitter.com/UOsUP2M2Wx
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) 21 Novembre 2015
Scores of guests still hostage in Mali hotel siege https://t.co/xq8Zwoz4Kp pic.twitter.com/QMOdZtcRYx
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) 20 Novembre 2015
Victims’ stories begin to be told
3 victims in #Mali hotel siege confirmed as China Railway Construction Corp. executives https://t.co/6dHN8mzn2x pic.twitter.com/OwWSM8VdoK
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) 21 Novembre 2015
3 Chinese citizens killed in Mali hotel siege https://t.co/xjly6DRD9d pic.twitter.com/rd2HlTcECi
— China.org.cn (@chinaorgcn) 21 Novembre 2015
Heavy gunfire can be heard as elite troops try to end siege at Mali hotel https://t.co/0NimQJ1wuy
— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) 20 Novembre 2015