Mali's Security Minister Says No More Hostages Held at Bamako Hotel

No more hostages are held at the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, though gunmen remain in the building, the country's security minister said Friday.

"They are currently holding no hostages and forces are in the process of tracking them down," Salif Traoré was quoted as saying by BFM TV.

Earlier in the day, several gunmen took 170 people hostage, including 140 guests and 30 hotel personnel.

According to UN peacekeepers, 27 bodies have been found so far at the Mali hotel.

An ISIL-affiliated group has claimed responsibility for the attack and hostage-taking in the Malian capital of Bamako, local media reported Friday.

Al-Mourabitoun, a group based in northern Mali, consisting mainly of Tuareg rebels and Arabs, posted a message on Twitter saying it was behind the blatant attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital’s center, according to Le Figaro.

The African jihadist group pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in May, previously having links with al-Qaeda.
 (Sputnik)
20/11/15
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