Mali: security tightened as situation of emergency declared
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Security has been tightened in Bamako, a day after heavily-armed militants took 170 people hostage at one of the city’s luxury hotels.
A state of emergency has been declared across Mali.
At least three suspects are thought to be on the run.
#Mali, il presidente era in prima fila dopo #CharlieHebdopic.twitter.com/ad6xiifZ0c
— L'aria che tira (@Ariachetira) 20 Novembre 2015President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who stood next to French President François Hollande at the Charlie Hebdo march in Paris in January, has visited the Radisson Blu hotel.
He has also that decreed three days of national mourning be observed.
“Nowhere in the world are we safe. These men do not deserve to be called men. They have decided to sever the links with humanity as we know it. Our values are not theirs.” he told reporters.
A flag belonging to the self-titled group Islamic State was found among the debris in the hotel.
#Mali hotel attack puts veteran militant back in spotlight #MaliAttacks#BelmokhtarCIA</a> <a href="https://t.co/xwIY82p0wO">https://t.co/xwIY82p0wO</a> <a href="https://t.co/qi5LaphCkl">pic.twitter.com/qi5LaphCkl</a></p>— THE WEEK (TheWeekLive) 21 Novembre 2015
However, the extremist group Al Mourabitoun, led by Algerian militant Moktar Belmoktar and linked to al Qaeda has said it was behind the attack.
The group has no links with IS.
#UPDATE At least 22 dead as gunmen seize more than 100 at Mali hotel https://t.co/ye6Ti5D6kMpic.twitter.com/pqeY6Mf1ua
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) 20 Novembre 2015At least 20 people and two attackers were killed in Friday’s attack.
The wider international community has also has an interest as the hotel is popular with foreign nationals, many of whom were caught up in the siege.