Three people have been killed in the attack this morning
At least three people have been killed as gunmen throwing grenades seized dozens of hostages at a luxury hotel in the Mali capital, military officials said.
The attackers seized about 170 hostages at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, although a Malian army commander later said about 20 hostages had been released.
It was not immediately clear why the group was freed or how many remained held by the militants.
Military commander Modibo Naman Traore said 10 gunmen stormed the hotel shouting “Allahu Akbar” – “God is great” in Arabic – before firing on the guards and taking hostages.
Some guests escaped the hotel. Monique Kouame Affoue Ekonde, an Ivorian, said she and six other people were escorted out by security forces.
Mali hotel attack: At least three dead as gunmen take 170 hostages
