Wing of Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for the attack in Mali Hotel

Officers show the flag of the actors hostage a number of visitors and staff in Hotel Radisson Blu in Bamako, Mali, November 20, 2015. The jihad group Al Mourabitoun allied with al Qaeda and the former French colony, claimed responsibility for the attack. REUTERS

Dakar - Armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda, Al-Mourabitoun, claimed responsibility for the attack at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Bamako, Mali. This is done in coordination with the group Imarat Al-Sahra and Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).



In footage obtained by Al Jazeera, the group said it would only release hostages if its members were released from prison Bamako and aggression against the people of northern Mali terminated. Mourabitoun said it would release a new statement when the incident ended.

Armed groups continued to carry out attacks in Mali despite the peace agreement between the former Tuareg rebels in the north and pro-government armed groups in June.

Mali fell to the northern part of Al-Qaeda groups in March-April 2012, prior to the military operation in January 2013. While there is a peace agreement, most of the country's territory is outside the control of government forces.

Reported that the attackers to get to the hotel with diplomatic number plates of vehicles, thus getting easy access. "About ten armed men arrived the morning and shoot all the guards in front of the Radisson," said Garba Konate, a business owner, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Another witness said he helped rescue a hotel guard who was injured. "I heard the sound of gunfire started coming out of the hotel," said Ibrahim, 28, who works in a cultural center 40 meters from the scene.

Gunshots heard outside the hotel room where security forces have established a secure place. Guinea a famous singer who was at the hotel told Reuters, he heard gunmen in English.

"I heard them say in English 'Do you load it?', 'Let's go'," said Sekouba 'Bambino' Diabate, who liberated the security forces of Mali. "I can not see them because in this kind of situation is difficult."

Idrissa Sangare, a local journalist who was at the scene, told Al Jazeera that the UN officials had held a function at the hotel. Sangare said he saw hundreds of hostages out Radisson. Several witnesses told the media that some of the hostages were freed by the attackers after reading verses of the Koran.

Al Jazeera | Archelaus W.| TEMPO.CO