Mali hotel 'attacked by gunmen' in Bamako

[nitpicker]

Source: BBC

Mali hotel 'attacked by gunmen' in Bamako


8 minutes ago

Gunmen have launched an attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in the centre of Mali's capital, Bamako, witnesses say. "Apparently it's an attempt to take hostages. The police are there and are sealing off the area," a security source told Reuters news agency.

Automatic weapon fire could be heard from outside the 190-room hotel, AFP reports.

BBC Afrique's Abdourahmane Dia says the hotel is popular with expats working in Mali.

(snip)

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34877069

[nitpicker]

1. Link to BBC updates

http://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-africa-34815762

[Recursion]

2. Hostages. Merde.

http://time.com/4121758/mali-bamako-radisson-hotel-attack-hostages/

170 guests + staff being held by two gunmen.

[uppityperson]

3. I do not understand what this will accomplish beyond more pain and misery

[Recursion]

4. School shooters don't go in to kill, they go in to die

That's probably a better mental heading to put modern terrorism under than anything else.

[uppityperson]

5. If there are only 2, that is good. I just wish they'd kill themselves first, if they want to die.

Eta, realizing how odd it is to say " that is good "

[Recursion]

6. I got your point, not sure of a better way to say it.

Ugh. Awful. I don't know anybody in Bamako right now, but I did a few months ago. Oy.

[uppityperson]

7. BBC update now saying 10 attackers.

[Recursion]

8. Fuck. That seems more likely

2 people can't realistically control 200 even with machine guns.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

9. Mali attack: gunmen take 170 hostages at Bamako hotel

Mali attack: gunmen take 170 hostages at Bamako hotel

Gunmen have attacked a Radisson hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and are holding 170 hostages, the hotel company has confirmed.

At least two private security guards were injured in the attack, the hotel’s head of security said.

Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar” before shooting at guards and taking hostages.

Some hostages, including those able to recite verses of the Qur’an, were later released, security sources told Reuters. A security source told AFP that the gunmen were “jihadis” and entered the hotel compound in a car that had diplomatic plates.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/20/gunmen-take-hostages-radisson-hotel-mali-bamako

Are we now going to be subjected to weekly Friday massacres by Islamic nut jobs?

[Helen Borg]

10. Probably...

[BumRushDaShow]

11. The radio report I heard said they were having a peace summit there

Apparently former French colonies are getting targeted. Let's hope that it doesn't spread into Algeria.

[IcyPeas]

12. If you can recite from Qu'ran...

They let some people leave. According to Guardian update.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

13. At least three hostages killed in Bamako hotel siege: minister

#BREAKING: At least three hostages killed in Bamako hotel siege: minister

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/667652889154822144

[MowCowWhoHow III]

14. Mali security forces storming besieged Bamako hotel: minister

#BREAKING: Mali security forces storming besieged Bamako hotel: minister

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/667653174984093696

[riversedge]

15. #UPDATE: Third body, a woman, found in rubble of apartment after Paris police raid

Agence France-Presse ?@AFP 7m7 minutes ago

#UPDATE: Third body, a woman, found in rubble of apartment after Paris police raid http://u.afp.com/ZgiA

[riversedge]

16. photos

https://uk.news.yahoo.com/third-body-found-paris-police-raid-101606940.html#KcHapbp

https://s.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eHzor5CG3eybpPf4mCfWpw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztjaD00ODQ7Y3I9MTtjdz03Njg7ZHg9MDtkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTM5ODtpbD1wbGFuZTtxPTc1O3c9NjMw/


https://s1.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/GhwPb7ywkDbFPEurb2NgaA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztjaD03NjA7Y3I9MTtjdz01Nzc7ZHg9MDtkeT0wO2ZpPXVsY3JvcDtoPTI1MTtxPTc1O3c9MTkw/

[alcibiades_mystery]

27. That plumbing is NOT to code

[Darb]

28. DUzy!

That was funny.

[MowCowWhoHow III]

17. New Delhi says 20 Indians held hostage in Mali hotel siege

#BREAKING: New Delhi says 20 Indians held hostage in Mali hotel siege

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/667670565273124864

[MowCowWhoHow III]

18. Eighty hostages freed in Mali hotel siege: local TV

#BREAKING: Eighty hostages freed in Mali hotel siege: local TV

https://twitter.com/AFP/status/667672688215896064

[nitpicker]

19. Special forces storm hotel attacked by Islamists

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34877069

Mali attack: Special forces storm hotel attacked by Islamists


12 minutes ago

From the section Africa


Malian special forces have entered the Radisson Blu Hotel in the centre of Mali's capital, Bamako, where suspected Islamists are holding dozens of guests and staff hostage.

At least three people were killed after gunmen entered the hotel shooting, and shouting "God is great!" in Arabic.

The hotel is popular with expat workers.

(snip)

[still_one]

20. Bloomberg reported witnesses said hotel guest were asked to quote passages from the Qur'an, and

those hostages were released that were able to do it

[brooklynite]

21. UPDATE: 80 HOSTAGES FREED FROM JIHADIST-HELD RADISSON HOTEL IN BAMAKO, MALI - STATE BROADCASTER

[Liberal_in_LA]

23. Thank goodness

[7962]

22. Wonder what we'll call THESE terrorists? Or still afraid to call it what it is?

Maybe they'll go with "Unemployed, disaffected, youth"?

[Darb]

29. You should dwell on it more.

I know that the baggers are obsessed with it.

[7962]

34. Just living in the real world, thats all.

Call em unicorns if you like

[onehandle]

24. Guns. The first line arms for terrorists. International and Domestic. nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

25. Still a confused situation - Mali government now giving 30 as the figure for those freed

but perhaps that's those the soldiers have directly freed, while others are getting out in other ways - it looks like the terrorists don't know the hotel layout:

The BBC has just spoken to an official at the Indian Embassy in Mali who said that all the Indians who had been staying at the Radisson Blu hotel are safe.
...
Chinese State TV is reporting that "four trapped Chinese nationals have been rescued" from the Radisson Blu hotel siege in Bamako.
...
"Our special forces soldiers are inside the hotel at this very moment. And as I am speaking to you now, they are searching the building room after room.

"They have been able to free 30 hostages, they are all safe. But three people were shot dead and two of our special forces were wounded, but their lives are not in danger.
...
Turkish Airlines says that two of its staff are still trapped in the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, but added that five crew members have managed to escape.
...
Security forces told Malian journalist Moussa Konda on the scene at they were able to free people trapped in the hotel because attackers did not know the hotel building very well.
...
Those freed include three Turkish Airlines staff, 12 Air France staff and Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-34815762

[Eugene]

26. Updated story at link: Mali attack: Special forces storm hotel to free hostages

Source: BBC

Mali attack: Special forces storm hotel to free hostages

20 November 2015 Africa

Malian special forces have entered the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako, to end a siege by gunmen. The hotel says 137 people remain inside.

The gunmen stormed the US-owned hotel, which is popular with foreign businesses and airline crews, shooting and shouting "God is great!" in Arabic.

Malian officials said 30 hostages have been freed. State TV earlier put the figure at 80.

Three people have been shot dead and two soldiers wounded, officials say.

[font size=1]-snip-[/font]

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34877069

[Blue_Tires]

30. I'll be interested to see the DU rationalization of how Mali

brought this on themselves, even though they haven't invaded or droned anybody

[B2G]

33. Evidently by ignoring it. nt

[7962]

35. Ha!

[Sunlei]

31. Radisson Blu Hotels. probably one of the best hotel chains in that part of the world.

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. updates: 138 still inside, 3 terrorists killed

The Malian Security Ministry has announced that three of the gunmen who seized the Radisson hotel in Bamako have been killed so far during the ongoing operation by security forces, independent Malian site Abamako reports.

The gunmen are reportedly heading for the roof of the building.
...
The Rezidor group which owns the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako, has released new figures for the number of people still thought to be inside the hotel after this morning's gun attack.

The information it had at 12:45 GMT was that 125 guests and 13 employees were still inside the building.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-34815762