Attack on Radisson Blu hotel in Mali
On 20 November at approximately 0700 UTC suspected Islamist militants launched an armed attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in central Bamako, taking approximately 170 people hostage, including 140 clients and 30 staff members hostage. At the time of writing the assailants’ identity remains unconfirmed, however some witnesses cited by media have said the gunmen shouted “Allahu Akbar” (“God is the greatest” in Arabic), suggesting they may be part of a militant Islamist group. The US-owned 190-room hotel is popular among expatriates in Bamako, however the nationalities of most hostages has not been confirmed. Turkish Airlines confirmed six staff members were inside the hotel and the Chinese news agency Xinhua reported several Chinese nationals were among the hostages. Local sources cited by media suggested many French nationals were among the hostages. Some reports suggested at least two private security guards have been injured in the initial stages of the attack.
Several hours after the hostages were taken in the hotel, journalists on the ground confirmed that all were freed. It is thought that 27 people died in the attack.
Falck Global Assistance commented on the attack: “The timing and location of the attack, both picked to follow major events such as the 13 November attacks in Paris and the international mining conference in Bamako, suggests a well-organised Islamist group is likely responsible. Former colonial power France continues to be a prominent target for Islamist militants in Mali.” It went on to warn: “Despite international efforts and capacity building measures, attacks across Mali are likely to continue, as domestic security forces remain understaffed, underequipped and poorly trained. Furthermore, while French-led intervention has helped to secure much of the country, without adequate state-building measures and security force presence, northern Mali will continue to be home to violence and mass abductions of domestic nationals.” All foreign nations in Mali were advised to stay indoors while the attack was ongoing, and Falck said that there is a high threat of kidnapping to all foreign nationals in Mali, particularly north of Mote.