Radisson hotel in Mali attacked; 170 hostages taken

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) – A Malian army commander says about 20 hostages have been released from a hotel in the capital that was seized by gunmen throwing grenades.

The gunmen had seized about 170 hostages on Friday morning at the Radisson Blu Hotel. Military commander Modibo Naman Traore told The Associated Press that about 20 hostages were freed later in the morning.

It was not immediately clear why the group was freed or how many exactly remained held by the militants.

Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar,” or “God is great,” in Arabic before firing on the guards and taking hostages.

Some guests also have been able to escape the hotel. Monique Kouame Affoue Ekonde, an Ivorian, said she and six other people were escorted out by security forces.

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BAMAKO, Mali (AP) – The company that runs the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali’s capital says assailants have taken 170 hostages in a brazen assault involving grenades.

The Brussels-based Rezidor Hotel group said the assailants had “locked in” 140 guests and 30 employees.

Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel Friday morning shouting “Allahu Akbar” or “God is great” in Arabic before firing on the guards and taking hostages.

The U.S. and French embassies asked their citizens to take shelter where they are in Bamako.

Following a military coup in 2012, Islamic extremists took control of northern Mali, prompting a French-led military intervention in early 2013. The extremists were scattered from northern towns and cities, though the north remains insecure and militant attacks have extended south this year.