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Mali hotel siege: As it happened

Automatic weapons fire could be heard from outside the 190-room Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital Bamako.

People run to flee from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20 / AP Photo
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Bamako: Security forces in Mali on Friday rescued scores of people, including 20 Indians, who were held hostage by the Islamist militants at the upmarket Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital Bamako. At least 27 people, including five attackers and a Belgian diplomat, were killed in the gunfight as militants forced their way into the 190-room hotel early on Friday. Security forces have evacuated everyone from the building. 

20 November 2015
22:29 IST

UN peacekeepers saw 27 bodies at Mali hotel, UN official.

 

22:25 IST

No more hostages in hotel siege, 18 bodies found so far.

22:23 IST

Belgian diplomat Geoffrey Dieudonne among those killed in the Mali gun attack, officials confirm.

22:23 IST

Gunmen in the Radisson hotel are no longer holding any hostages, Malian official tells local television.

20:52 IST

The Reuters news agency is reporting that the jihadist group al-Murabitoun has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako.

It made the announcement on its Twitter account, Reuters says, but the claim could not be verified.

Al-Murabitoun is made up of two groups which broke away from a North African branch of al-Qaeda.

20:52 IST

The heads of state from the G5 Sahel group - made up of Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania - who are meeting in Chad's capital N'Djamena have expressed their condolences and solidarity with the people of Mali.

20:18 IST

US special forces help rescue "at least six" Americans in Mali: US official.

20:13 IST

All 20 Indians in the hotel in Bamako have been safely evacuated. Our Ambassador in Mali has confirmed.

20:01 IST

Pictures show hostages fleeing to safety from Mali hotel; 138 people still inside.

19:36 IST

124 guests, 13 staff still inside Radisson Blue hotel in Bamako following gun attack, says hotel company.

Footage shows police, soldiers outside Mali hotel that was attacked by gunmen:

19:36 IST

US special forces helping to move people to safety in Bamako as Malian forces clear hotel of gunmen.

 

Also Read: Mali terror attack: Army confirms three dead, 20 Indians trapped inside Radisson Blu

19:35 IST

Four trapped Chinese nationals in the hotel have been rescued.

19:29 IST

Local radio station Mikado FM has tweeted a picture of a UN ambulance, which it says is ready to evacuate 20 hostages who have been rescued from the hotel. 

 

18:17 IST

All 12 Air France crew who were caught up in the siege at the Radisson Hotel in Bamako have escaped and are safe, according to a tweet from the French airline. The group rescued was made up of two pilots and 10 cabin crew, according to the statement.

18:17 IST

'Mali attackers spoke English', says witness. A report said that a hostage who was freed from the Radisson Blu in Mali's capital, Bamako, says that he heard the attackers were speaking English.

18:02 IST

Twenty Indians are reportedly trapped inside the hotel but are safe. According to a report, they work for an Indian business group based in Dubai and have a permanent room in the hotel.

 

17:45 IST

20 Indians in Bamako luxury hotel siege in Mali, says MEA.

17:16 IST

The Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, where gunmen have attacked and locked in guests and staff.

Malian troops stand guard outside the hotel.

17:07 IST

Media reports said that the gunmen attacking the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Mali have released some hostages including those able to recite verses of the Koran.

16:55 IST

The Radisson Blu hotel is to the west of the centre of Mali's capital, Bamako.

The 190 room hotel is advertised on the Radisson Blu website as an "upscale lodging" with a swimming pool and spa.

The hotel is American owned.


Pic courtesy: BBC/Google

Also Read: Gunmen hold 170 hostage at Mali hotel, three killed

16:50 IST

The office of Mali's president is tweeting that the President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita - who is in neighbouring Chad - will be returning to Mali soon.

16:49 IST

A witness in Mali's capital city, Bamako, suggests the attackers had diplomatic plates on their car.

"They have come this way while I was sweeping in the yard," said the hotel gardener.

"They were in car with a diplomatic license plate. They were masked. At the gate of the hotel, the guard stopped them and they started firing and we fled."

Also Read: Mali govt, rebels swap prisoners in bright spot for peace deal

16:47 IST

A radical Islamist militant leader in Mali had called on his followers to target French interests in the country, according to BBC. 

 

Also Read: South African killed in Mali hotel siege: Foreign Ministry

16:46 IST

Popular Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino is among those able to get out of the luxury hotel attacked in the capital Bamako. "I woke up with the sounds of gunshots and for me, it was just small bandits who came in the hotel to claim something.

"After 20 or 30 minutes, I realized these are not just petty criminals," he told journalists.

16:46 IST

The Rezidor Hotel Group, the US-based parent company of Radisson Blu, said two people were holding 170 people hostage. Radisson Blu, an upscale brand of the Radisson hotel chain, has more than 230 luxury hotels and resorts worldwide.

16:45 IST

French, Chinese and Turkish citizens in hotel.

 

Also Read: The spoils of peace undermining stability in Mali

16:37 IST

No group immediately claimed responsibility for the incident.

16:37 IST

The Radisson Blu hotel is about 15 minutes away from Bamako Senou International Airport.

16:36 IST

Malian soldiers with help from UN troops surrounded the hotel.

16:36 IST

The armed men came in a diplomatic vehicle earlier in the day, firing as they entered the hotel, said witness Amadou Keita, who works at a cultural centre nearby.

16:36 IST

The victims comprised two Malian citizens and a French national, authorities said.

16:30 IST

Mali army commander says about 20 hostages freed from Bamako hotel seized by gunmen.

16:18 IST

Mali security forces storming besieged Bamako hotel: Minister.

16:18 IST

At least three hostages killed in Bamako hotel siege: Minister.

16:18 IST

Mali security forces evacuate around a dozen hostages from hotel: ministry.

16:17 IST

At least seven Chinese hostages in Mali siege.

16:17 IST

Turkish state media says 6 Turkish Airlines personnel are among hostages in Mali.

15:55 IST

Hotel company says 170 hostages - 140 guests and 30 employees - taken in Radisson Blu attack in Mali.

15:54 IST

Two people holding 170 guests, staff hostage in Bamako hotel: company.

15:53 IST

Mali security forces escort two women from besieged Bamako hotel.

15:52 IST

Gunmen seize 170 hostages at Radisson hotel in Mali capital Bamako.

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