Mali forces engage hostage takers at Radisson Blu Hotel

Help may have come the way of about 170 hostages who have been held hostage by gunmen at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako.

Malian forces have entered the hotel in a bid to free hostages and engage gunmen who stormed the US-owned hotel, which is popular with foreign businesses and airline crews, shooting and shouting “God is great!” in Arabic.

Incoming reports suggests that at least three people have been killed in the siege that started about 07:00 GMT.

However, Malian state TV is reporting that 80 people have now been freed from the stronghold of the captives, while Air France has also confirmed that 12 of its crew have been freed in the rescue operation.

A security source earlier told Reuters that some of the hostages who were able to recite verses of the Quran were allowed to go free.

The roll-call of guests staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel before gunmen took over were six Turkish Airlines staff, 10 Chinese citizens and 20 Indian nationals.

It could be recalled that a number of suspected Islamist gunmen took occupants of a hotel located in the central Malian town of Sevare hostage, killing 13 people including five UN workers last August.

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