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2015 Bamako hotel attack

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On 20 November 2015, Islamist militants took 170 hostages and killed 20 of them in a mass shooting at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the capital city of Mali.[5][6][7] The siege was ended when Malian special forces, backed by U.S. and French personnel, launched an assault on the hotel to recover the surviving hostages.[8][9] Al-Mourabitoun claimed that it carried out the attack "in cooperation with" al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; an al Qaeda member confirmed that the two groups cooperated in the attack.[10]

2015 Bamako hotel attack
Location of Bamako within Mali
LocationBamako, Mali
Coordinates12°38′07″N 8°01′51″W / 12.6352°N 8.0308°W / 12.6352; -8.0308
Date20 November 2015 (UTC)
Attack type
Mass shooting, 170 hostages taken
WeaponsAK-47 assault rifles,
hand grenades, Explosive belt
Deaths22 total
  • 20 hostages
  • 2 gunmen[1]
Injured7 and at least two Malian Special Forces[2][3][4]
PerpetratorsAl-Mourabitoun
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Background

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Following the Libyan civil war, many ethnic Tuareg who had fought for the Gaddafi government and the rebels took their weapons and left for Azawad (a region in Northern Mali that the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) wants to be an independent state). Following several previously failed Tuareg rebellions, the MNLA managed to take over the area and declare independence. However, the secular movement was soon overrun by Islamist-oriented groups such as the MOJWA and the Ansar Dine. The French launched a military operation that ousted the rebels,[citation needed] with additional military support from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).[11] However, simmering tensions and irregular incidents continued to occur. The Macina Liberation Front is a new jihadist group operating in central and southern Mali led by the radical Muslim cleric Amadou Kouffa, a strong proponent of strict Islamic law in Mali. The group draws most of its support from the Fulani ethnic group, who are found across the Sahel region. Kouffa is a close ally of Ansar Dine leader Iyad ag Ghali. A Human Rights Watch report said the Macina Liberation Front militants had carried out serious abuses in parts of central Mali since January and killed at least five people they accused of being aligned to the government. The group has attacked police and military, particularly in the Mopti region, most recently killing three soldiers in Tenenkou in August. The Malian military recently arrested Alaye Bocari, a man they say was a key MLF financier and Kouffa's right-hand man.[12]

The Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako is in a business district that is close to the embassies, and is frequented by foreign businesspeople and government employees.[13] It is part of a chain of up-market hotels that is operated by the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, which has headquarters in the United States and Belgium.[14]

Attack

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Two gunmen arrived at the hotel[15] between 7 and 7:30 a.m.; according to a hotel employee, the men were driving a vehicle with diplomatic license plates.[6] Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traoré said that at least 10 gunmen had stormed the hotel shouting "Allahu Akbar" before firing on guards and taking hostages.[16] Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino, who was in the hotel but escaped,[11] reported that the perpetrators were speaking in English.[17] This was supported by many other witnesses, who said the attackers spoke something that was neither Arabic nor local.[18]

Kassim Traoré, a Malian journalist, said that hostages were asked to recite the shahada in order to get released.[6] Soon after, the Armed and Security Forces of Mali special forces stormed the hotel.[19] According to the hotel operators, 125 guests and 13 employees were inside the hotel when the siege began.[6] According to General Didier Dacko of the Malian Army, "about 100 hostages" were taken at the beginning of the siege.[6] The Associated Press[20] and Al Jazeera have reported that in the chaos of the initial attack, many present were able to escape, but around 170 people were held hostage.[21]

A delegation of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie was in the hotel at the time of the attack.[6] Ten Chinese citizens, twenty Indian citizens,[22] about a dozen American citizens including personnel from the US Embassy,[23] seven Algerian citizens including six diplomats, two Russian citizens, two Moroccan citizens, seven Turkish Airlines staff, and an unknown number of French citizens were reported to have been among those taken hostage. Two Canadian mining executives were some of the last hostages rescued.[11] Twelve crew from Air France, who were also in the hotel, were extracted and safely released.[24] Three United Nations staff were safely removed from the hotel, but it remains unknown how many were caught inside. Several delegates from MINUSMA were present at the hotel attending a meeting on the peace process in the country.[25] More than 100 hostages were freed.[26]

The UN peacekeepers supported the Malian Armed Forces by reinforcing security around the hotel.[11] 25 U.S. government personnel were in Bamako at the time of the attack, some of whom assisted Malian forces in evacuating civilians to secure locations.[24] A group of five U.S. Diplomatic Security Service personnel were the first responders to enter the building.[27] Two of these personnel were decorated for their role in rescuing hostages, with U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Kyle Morgan receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for exceptional heroism, and Gunnery Sergeant Jared Stout receiving the Silver Star.[28] Another member helped at the Joint Operations Center, which was set up to respond to the incident. A further 12 U.S. citizens were rescued by Malian security forces, according to AFRICOM.[29]

Although there were earlier reports of more gunmen involved in the hotel attack, the investigation determined that in fact there were only two attackers.[15]

Victims

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Deaths by nationality
Country Number Ref.
  Mali 6 [30]
  Russia 6 [30]
  China 3 [30]
  Belgium 2 [30]
  United States 1 [30]
  Senegal 1 [30]
  Israel 1 [30]
Total 20 [30]

Twenty people were murdered in the attack: six Malians, six Russians, three Chinese, two Belgians, one American, one Israeli and one Senegalese.[31][32][33] Among the victims were:

Responsibility

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While the attack was under way, Al-Mourabitoun claimed responsibility for it via Twitter, although its claim has not been verified.[7][40] In an audio recording provided to Al Jazeera, the group also claimed responsibility and said that it had undertaken the attack jointly with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).[41] Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is an armed force that defines itself as an Islamic-based militant organization whose ultimate goal is to create an Islamic State in Algeria.[42] Al-Mourabitoun is made up of Tuaregs and Arabs from northern Mali and is affiliated with AQIM.[40][41] The group, led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, formed in 2013 and is based in the Sahara Desert.[43]

The Macina Liberation Front also claimed responsibility for the attack.[18]

Reactions

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Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta cut short his visit to Chad in order to return to Bamako and coordinate the response.[11] Mali also declared a 10-day state of emergency.[44]

In a press conference, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius stated that France will take "all steps necessary" to fight the attackers in Bamako. A crisis unit was set up in the embassy.[11] Forty officers from the National Gendarmerie's GIGN special forces unit, along with ten forensic and criminal officers, were sent to "advise and support" Malian security forces.[24][45] Air France flights to and from Bamako were suspended for the day.[24]

The United Nations Security Council[46] condemned the attack.[47] Australia advised its citizens not to travel to Mali and advised those in country to leave.[48] Similar warnings were made by the Foreign Office in the United Kingdom advised British nationals to remain indoors and follow the instructions of the local government authorities.[49] The United States condemned the attack[50] and confirmed continuing coordination of its officials in the country to verify the location of all citizens in Mali and that it was "prepared to assist the Malian government in the coming days as it investigates this tragic terrorist attack."[citation needed] The embassy urged its citizens to shelter in place, follow government instructions and contact their family.[51]

The Russian city of Ulyanovsk Oblast, home of five of the victims, declared 23 November a mourning day.[52]

Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita later declared three days of national mourning in Mali. Ahead of the three days of national mourning, the chairman of the West African regional bloc Ecowas, Senegal's President Macky Sall, visited Bamako to show support. He said on Sunday: "Mali will never be alone in this fight, we are all committed because we are all involved." Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea are also observing the mourning.[12]

Investigation

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Three days after the attack, the Malian government released photographs of the corpses of the two attackers.[15] The men were clean-shaven and appeared to be in their 20s.[15] One "had visible bullet wounds to his upper body."[15] The authorities have not been able to identify the men and urged members of the public with information to come forward.[15] Al Mourabitoun, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said that the men were Abdul Hakim al-Ansari and Mu'adh al-Ansari, but this claim has not been verified.[15]

On 22 November 2015, two separate police sources speaking to Agence-France Presse on condition of anonymity said that "two foreigners" along with "three or four accomplice" were responsible for the attack.[53]

On 27 November 2015, Malian special forces arrested two Malian men in their early 30s on the outskirts of Bamako in connection with the attack.[32][54] The men were linked to the attack by a mobile phone found at the scene of the attack.[54]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Число жертв атаки террористов на отель в Мали достигло 20. Tass.ru (24 November 2015)
  2. ^ "Mali Hotel Attack: At Least 21 Dead, More Than 150 Freed after Gunmen Take Hostages at Radisson Blu in Bamako". Australian Broadcasting Corporation News. 21 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  3. ^ "Mali-Bamako Hotel Attack". News Ghana. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  4. ^ "Mali Hotel Attack Leaves 22 Dead". News Ghana. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  5. ^ Hanna, Jason; Payne, Ed; Almasy, Steve (20 November 2015). "Deadly Mali Hotel Attack: 'They Were Shooting at Anything That Moved'". CNN. Retrieved 21 November 2015. Includes video.
  6. ^ a b c d e f Searcey, Dionne; Nossiternov, Adam (20 November 2015). "Deadly Siege Ends After Assault on Hotel in Mali". International New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b Diallo, Tiemoko; Diarra, Adama (21 November 2015). "Putin says seeks global anti-terrorism fight after 19 killed in Mali attack". Reuters (U.S. ed.). Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  8. ^ "Mali Hotel Attack: 'No More Hostages' after Special Forces Raid". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  9. ^ "Mali Attack: Special Forces Storm Hotel to Free Hostages". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  10. ^ Callimachi, Rukmini; Bulos, Naih (21 November 2015). "Mali Hotel Attackers Are Tied to an Algerian Qaeda Leader". International New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Africa Live: Shooting at hotel in Mali's capital". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Mali hotel attack: Police seek info on hotel attack gunmen". BBC News. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015.
  13. ^ Blair, David (20 November 2015). "Why the Radisson Hotel in Mali was a prime target". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  14. ^ Dubuis, Anna (20 November 2015). "Where is Bamako and why has the Radisson hotel been targeted by terrorists?". Daily Mirror. Trinity Mirror plc. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g Carlotta Gall, Mali Says 2 Gunmen Carried Out Hotel Attack in Bamako, New York Times (23 November 2015).
  16. ^ Kaplan, Sarah; Murphy, Brian (20 November 2015). "Gunmen attack luxury hotel in Mali capital, take 170 hostages". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  17. ^ "At Least 27 Dead in Mali Hotel Attack Claimed by Al-Qaeda Affiliate". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015.
  18. ^ a b "The Radisson Blu siege". The Economist. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  19. ^ "Mali attack: Special forces storm hotel to free hostages". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  20. ^ "The Latest: UN officials say 2 attackers dead in Mali attack". BAMAKO, Mali. Associated Press. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  21. ^ "'No more hostages' as Mali hotel stormed". Al Jazeera. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Live Blog: Islamist gunmen attack luxury hotel in Mali capital". The Times of India. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  23. ^ 2015 Bamako hotel attack, retrieved 20 November 2015
  24. ^ a b c d "World News liveblog". Reuters. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  25. ^ "Gunmen take hostages at Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako". CNN. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  26. ^ "Mali hotel attack leaves at least 27 dead after 170 taken hostage". ABC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  27. ^ "Courage Under Fire: The Mali Hotel Rescues". U.S. Department of State. 24 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Army special operator received valor award for actions concurrent with hostage crisis in Mali". ArmyTimes. 16 July 2019.
  29. ^ "A dozen US citizens rescued after Mali hotel attack". AFP. 21 November 2015.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h "EN DIRECT - Attentat à Bamako : l'état d'urgence décrété pour 10 jours". Le Figaro. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2017.
  31. ^ Tajha Chappellet-Lanier, The Latest in the Mali Hotel Attack: The country begins a period of national mourning as police search for suspects in the deadly shooting, The Atlantic (22 November 2015).
  32. ^ a b Associated Press, Mali special forces arrest 2 over attack on luxury hotel in Mali claimed by Islamic extremists (27 November 2015).
  33. ^ Mali hotel attack: Gunmen barged in, shot at 'anything that moved', Faith Karimi and Erin Burnett, CNN, 21 November 2015
  34. ^ a b c d e Associated Press, A Partial List of Victims in the Mali Hotel Attack (23 November 2015).
  35. ^ Philip Blenkinsop, Belgian man dies in Bamako hotel siege - regional assembly, Reuters (20 November 2015).
  36. ^ "Belgian diplomat among Mali victims". ITV. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  37. ^ Liam Stack, U.S. Victim of Mali Attack Worked on Women's Health, New York Times (20 November 2015).
  38. ^ Phil Helsel & Christopher Nelson, American Killed in Mali Hotel Attack Dedicated Self to Others: Family, NBC News (21 November 2015).
  39. ^ Lis, Jonathan (21 November 2015). "Israeli Man Among 20 Killed During Islamist Hotel Siege in Mali". HaAretz. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  40. ^ a b Natalie Ilsley (20 November 2015). "Al-Mourabitoun Group Claims Responsibility for Mali Attack". Newsweek.
  41. ^ a b Mona Boshnaq (20 November 2015). "Al Mourabitoun Claims Responsibility for Mali Siege, Al Jazeera". The New York Times.
  42. ^ "The GSPC: Newest Franchise in al-Qaida's Global Jihad". Combating Terrorism Center at West Point. 2 April 2007. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  43. ^ "Al Qaeda-affiliated group claims Mali hotel attack". Reuters. 20 November 2015.
  44. ^ "Mali declares 10-day state of emergency following hotel attack". jagran.com. 21 November 2015.
  45. ^ "Mali hotel attack: gunmen take hostages in Bamako – live updates". The Guardian. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  46. ^ "The Latest: Security Council Strongly Condemns Mali Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  47. ^ "China strongly condemns Mali hotel attack, confirms 3 nationals killed". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 21 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  48. ^ "Travel Advice for Mali". smartraveller.gov.au. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  49. ^ "Mali travel advice". gov.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  50. ^ "Statement from NSC Spokesman Ned Price on the Terrorist Attack in Mali". whitehouse.gov. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015 – via National Archives.
  51. ^ "Messages for U.S. Citizens | Bamako, Mali – Embassy of the United States". mali.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  52. ^ Russia Beyond the Headlines: Bodies of Russian hostages killed in Mali to be transported home in a week
  53. ^ Investigation into Mali attack points to 'two foreigners', Deutsche Welle (22 November 2015).
  54. ^ a b Faith Karimi & Brent Swails, Mali arrests 2 suspects in hotel terror attack, CNN (27 November 2015).
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