Gunmen entered the popular Radisson Blu hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako with guns and grenades, shooting and screaming "Allahu Akbar". Gunmen have taken 140 guests and 30 members of staff hostage. The Rezidor Hotel Group confirmed it is 'aware of the hostage-taking that is ongoing at the property today'. Media say the hotel is popular with foreign visitors.
The U.S. Embassy in Mali said it was aware of an "ongoing active-shooter operation at the Radisson Hotel."
"The U.S. Embassy staff has been asked to shelter in place," it said. "All U.S. citizens should shelter in place. Private U.S. citizens are encouraged to contact their family. Monitor local media for updates. U.S. citizens should adhere to the instructions of local authorities and monitor local media."
In August, the Embassy issued a security message informing U.S. citizens "of a heightened security risk to westerners in southern Mali, including the area outside Bamako city."
UPDATE: By noon, at least 80 hostages had been freed, including 7 Turkish Airlines employees. Two Malian nationals and a French national have died.
UPDATE2: At least 22 people were killed in the attack, the U.N. mission in Mali said in a statement Sunday. wo attackers died, but it's unclear whether security forces killed them or if they blew themselves up.
