Terrorist Gunmen Capture 170 Hostages At Radisson Hotel In Mali

Terrorist Gunmen Capture 170 Hostages At Radisson Hotel In Mali

Gunmen stormed a hotel packed with foreigners Friday in the former French colony of Mali, taking 170 guests and workers hostage, U.S. Embassy officials and a hotel spokeswoman told NBC News

Shouting “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great” in Arabic, the invaders opened fire on the guards and quickly took dozens of captives, Mali army commander Modibo Nama Traore told The Associated Press.

Three people were killed, but many — including six Americans — managed to escape the upscale hotel in the capital Bamako, military officials told the AP.

U.S. military personnel stationed in the area rushed to the hotel to help local first responders move the escapees to safety, officials said, although there has not been a formal request for American military assistance.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy described the hostage-taking as an “ongoing active-shooter operation.”

The raid on the Radisson Blu, which is popular with foreigners and frequently used by airline crews, came a week after terrorists killed 129 people in Paris.

In response to the fresh mayhem in Mali, France announced the immediate dispatch of 50 elite counter-terrorism police to the country.

While no group has claimed to be behind the attack, it comes just days after the Iyad Ag Ghaly, the leader of the al Qaeda linked militant group Ansar Dine, called for attacks on France and its interests in Mali.

The own of the hotel said it was working to establish the names and nationalities of those taken.

Pray for Mali and the rest of the world!