Suspected Islamist gunmen in Mali take 170 people hostage in capital's Radisson Blu Hotel
Early Friday, a group of armed men stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali's capital, taking 140 guests and 30 employees hostage, according to the hotel chain's parent company. The Rezidor Hotel group said there were two gunmen, but Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traore told reporters that 10 gunmen shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) ran in and fired on the hotel guards. The luxury hotel is popular with foreigners, and the U.S. and French embassies told their respective citizens to take shelter if they are in Bamako.
There were no reports of fatalities yet, and the identity of the gunmen is so far unknown. But Islamist militants took control of northern Mali in 2012, driven out only after the French led a military operation in the country. The jihadists have launched isolated attacks since being ousted in 2013.
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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