Mali hotel attack: 80 of the 170 hostages freed, 3 dead

The hostages held by two gunmen include 20 Indians

Two people have "locked in" 140 guests and 30 employees in an ongoing hostage-taking at the Radisson Blu hotel in the Malian capital Bamako, the hotel chain said in a statement today.

"The Rezidor Hotel Group is aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today, 20th November 2015. As per our information two persons have locked in 140 guests and 30 employees," said the company.

"Our safety and security teams and our corporate team are in constant contact with the local authorities in order to offer any support possible to re-instate safety and security at the hotel," it added in a statement released in London.

US special forces and elite French units are assisting in the Mali hotel hostage recovery.

There are 20 Indians in the five-star hotel in Mali's capital Bamako where gunmen on Friday took 170 people hostage, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

"#MaliAttack: Acc'g to current info there are 20 Indians staying in the hotel. Our Amb is continuously in touch with them & monitor'g sitn," Swarup tweeted.

 

Security force personnel escort people fleeing from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali. Photo: AP/PTI

The company is based in the United States.

Security sources in Mali said jihadists had launched a shooting rampage in the 190-room hotel and automatic weapons fire could be heard from outside the building.

Islamist groups have continued to wage attacks in Mali despite a June peace deal between former Tuareg rebels in the north of the country and rival pro-government armed groups.