UN conference delegates among hostages taken at Radisson Blu, Mali

Initial reports coming out of Africa indicate up to five fatalities, following a terrorist attack on the Radisson Blu Hotel in the centre of Mali’s capital, Bamako. The US-owned hotel is popular with expats working in Mali. It is feared up to 170 people have been taken hostage. A statement from operator Rezidor on its website said: “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 reinstate safety and security at the hotel…we continue to monitor the situation closely”. Olivier Saldago, a spokesman for The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), said the hotel had been host to a large delegation for the peace process. At least seven Chinese guests are among those held hostage, Chinese media was reporting. Back in August, a suspected Islamist gunmen killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in the central Malian town of Sevare. France is the former colonial power in Mali and intervened in the country after al-Qaeda-linked militants created unrest the north of the country. A UN force in Mali took over responsibility for security in the country from French troops in July 2013. The US has issued advice to its citizens to take shelter where they are and contact their families. “It’s all happening on the seventh floor, Jihadists are firing in the corridor,” a security source was reported telling the AFP agency. The Rezidor Hotel Group, which owns the Radisson Blu, said its information said two people had locked in 140 guests and 30 employees, although other media outlets were reporting that up to 10 gunmen could be involved.