Gunmen stormed a hotel on Friday (Nov. 20) in the Malian capital of Bamako and held 140 guests and 30 staff members hostage, with at least three people reportedly killed.
Malian special forces subsequently stormed the hotel, and 80 of the hostages managed to escape.
“Our special forces have freed hostages and 30 others were able to escape on their own,” Salif Traore, Mali’s security minister, told AFP. The death toll is likely to rise, with reports of many bodies in the hotel. In a statement at 13:45 CET (7:45am ET), the owner of the hotel said 125 guests and 13 employees are still in the building.
Malian special forces subsequently stormed the hotel, and 80 of the hostages managed to escape.
“Our special forces have freed hostages and 30 others were able to escape on their own,” Salif Traore, Mali’s security minister, told AFP. The death toll is likely to rise, with reports of many bodies in the hotel. In a statement at 13:45 CET (7:45am ET), the owner of the hotel said 125 guests and 13 employees are still in the building.