2015 Bamako hotel attack

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
2015 Bamako hotel attack
Mali map.png
Location of Bamako within Mali
Location Bamako, Mali
Coordinates 12°38′07″N 8°01′51″W / 12.6352°N 8.0308°W / 12.6352; -8.0308Coordinates: 12°38′07″N 8°01′51″W / 12.6352°N 8.0308°W / 12.6352; -8.0308
Date 20 November 2015 (UTC)
Attack type
 Mass shooting, 170 hostages taken
Weapons AK-47 assault rifles, hand grenades
Deaths 21 (including 2 gunmen)[1]
Non-fatal injuries
 7 and at least two Malian Special Forces[1][2][3]
Assailants Al-Mourabitoun
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

On 20 November 2015, Islamist militants took 170 hostages and killed 19 of them in a mass shooting at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the capital and largest city in Mali.[4][5][6] Malian commandos raided the hotel and freed the surviving hostages.[7][8] Al-Mourabitoun claimed that it carried out the attack "in cooperation with" Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; an Al Qaeda member, who refused to be named, confirmed that the two groups cooperated in the attack.[9]

Background[edit]

Following the Libyan civil war, mostly Tuareg troops employed by the government took government weapons and left for Azawad (unrecognized state claimed by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, MNLA). 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 MOJWA and the more hardline Ansar Dine. The French put troops on the ground and led many missions to oust the rebels,[10] 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 one of new jihadist group operating in central and southern Mali which is 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. Kouffa is a close ally of Tuareg jihadist Iyad ag Ghali, who leads the powerful jihadist group Ansar Dine. 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[edit]

Four or five gunmen arrived at the hotel between 07:00 and 07:30; according to a hotel employee, the men were driving a vehicle with diplomatic license plates.[5] 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.[15] Minister of internal security Colonel Salif Traor said the gunmen had burst through a security barrier at 7 am GMT, spraying the area with gunfire and shouting Allahu Akbar.[16] Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino, who was in the hotel but escaped,[11] reported that the perpetrators were speaking in English.[17]

Kassim Traoré, a Malian journalist, said that hostages were asked to recite the shahada in order to get released.[5] Soon after, Malian special forces stormed the hotel.[18] According to the hotel operators, 125 guests and 13 employees were inside the hotel when the siege began.[5] According to General Didier Dacko of the Malian Army, "about 100 hostages" were taken at the beginning of the siege.[5] The Associated Press[19] 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.[20]

A delegation of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie was in the hotel at the time of the attack.[5] Ten Chinese citizens; twenty Indian citizens;[21] about a dozen American citizens, including personnel from the US Embassy;[22] 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.[11] Twelve crew from Air France, who were also in the hotel, were extracted and safely released.[23] 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.[24] More than 100 hostages were freed.[25]

UN peacekeepers supported the Malian Armed Forces by reinforcing security around the hotel.[11] 25 U.S. Special Forces were in Bamako at the time of the attack and assisted Malian forces in evacuating civilians to secure locations.[23] An official from the U.S. Defense Department's said that 22 military and civilian department personnel were in the city, including five people who were at the hotel. However, he added that everyone was accounted for and there were no reports of injuries. One member, who was outside, entered the hotel to help first responders move civilians to secure locations while the Malian operation was ongoing. Another member helped at the Joint Operations Center, which was set up to respond to the incident. The official also said that the forces did not directly participate in the operation. A further 12 U.S. citizens were rescued by security forces, according to AFRICOM.[26]

Victims[edit]

Deaths by nationality
Nationality Deaths Ref.
 Russia 6 [27]
 China 3 [27]
 Belgium 2 [28]
 Mali 6 [28]
 Israel 1 [29]
 United States 1 [30]
Total 19 [6]

The Malian President's office reported 19 fatalities.[6] Of those, nationalities included six Malian civilians; 6 Russians; 3 Chinese ; one Israeli and two Belgians;[28] and a U.S. citizen.[30] The dead included:

  • Geoffrey Dieudonne, an official at the parliament in Belgium's Wallonia region.
  • Chinese nationals Zhou Tianxiang, Wang Xuanshang, and Chang Xuehui, executives from the state-owned China Railway Construction Corporation.
  • United States national Anita Ashok Datar, who was in Mali to work on projects involving family planning and HIV. Datar was a senior manager at Palladium Group, an international development organisation.
  • Six Russians, all employees of the Volga-Dnepr Airlines. Volga-Dnepr reported that the six were Stanislav Dumansky and Pavel Kudryavtsev, mechanics; Vladimir Kudryashov, a flight radio operator; Konstantin Preobrazhensky, a flight engineer; Sergey Yurasov, a load manager, and Aleksandr Kononenko, a navigator.
  • Israeli education consultant and executive Shmuel Benalal, who is reported to have been in Mali to work with the government.[31]

Responsibility[edit]

While the attack was under way, Al-Mourabitoun claimed responsibility for it via Twitter, although its claim has not been verified.[6][32] 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).[33]

Al-Mourabitoun is made up of Tuaregs and Arabs from northern Mali and is affiliated with AQIM.[32][33] The group, led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, formed in 2013 and is based in the Sahara Desert.[34]

Reactions[edit]

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.[35]

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.[23][36] Air France flights to and from Bamako were suspended for the day.[23]

The United Nations Security Council[37] condemned the attack.[38] Australia advised its citizens not to travel to Mali and advised those in country to leave.[39] 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.[40] The United States condemned the attack[41] 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."[42] The embassy urged its citizens to shelter in place, follow government instructions and contact their family.[43]

Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia, home for five of the victims, declared November 23 a mourning day.[44] Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita later declared a 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.[45]

See also[edit]

Portal icon 2010s portal
Portal icon Mali portal
Portal icon Terrorism portal

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "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. 
  2. ^ "Mali-Bamako Hotel Attack". News Ghana. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  3. ^ "Mali Hotel Attack Leaves 22 Dead". News Ghana. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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. 
  6. ^ a b c d 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. 
  7. ^ "Mali Hotel Attack: 'No More Hostages' after Special Forces Raid". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  8. ^ "Mali Attack: Special Forces Storm Hotel to Free Hostages". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  9. ^ 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. 
  10. ^ "Behind the scenes: US involved in Mali since 9/11". RT. 
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Africa Live: Shooting at hotel in Mali's capital". BBC News. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  12. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34897745
  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. ^ Kaplan, Sarah; Murphy, Brian (20 November 2015). "Gunmen attack luxury hotel in Mali capital, take 170 hostages". The Washington Post. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  16. ^ "Mali attack: 20 Indians evacuated, safe". The Asian Age. Nov 21, 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  17. ^ "At Least 27 Dead in Mali Hotel Attack Claimed by Al-Qaeda Affiliate". The New Indian Express. 
  18. ^ "Mali attack: Special forces storm hotel to free hostages". BBC News. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  19. ^ "The Latest: UN officials say 2 attackers dead in Mali attack". Associated Press (BAMAKO, Mali). Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  20. ^ "'No more hostages' as Mali hotel stormed". Al Jazeera. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  21. ^ "Live Blog: Islamist gunmen attack luxury hotel in Mali capital". The Times of India. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  22. ^ 2015 Bamako hotel attack, retrieved 20 November 2015 
  23. ^ a b c d "World News liveblog". Reuters. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  24. ^ "Gunmen take hostages at Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako". CNN. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  25. ^ "Mali hotel attack leaves at least 27 dead after 170 taken hostage". ABC News (in en-AU). Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  26. ^ "A dozen US citizens rescued after Mali hotel attack". dailymail.co.uk. 21 November 2015. 
  27. ^ a b Mali hotel attack: Gunmen barged in, shot at 'anything that moved', Faith Karimi and Erin Burnett, CNN, November 21, 2015
  28. ^ a b c American Killed in Mali Attacks Was Mother and Peace Corps Volunteer
  29. ^ Lis, Jonathan (Nov 21, 2015). "Israeli Among 19 Killed During Islamist Hotel Siege in Mali". HaAretz. Retrieved 21 November 2015. 
  30. ^ a b "1 American killed in Mali attack: US State Dept.". presstv.com. 
  31. ^ Diallo, Tiemoko and Adama Diarra. "Putin seeks global anti-terrorism fight after Mali attack" (Archive). Reuters.
  32. ^ a b Natalie Ilsley (20 November 2015). "Al-Mourabitoun Group Claims Responsibility for Mali Attack". Newsweek. 
  33. ^ a b Mona Boshnaq (20 November 2015). "Al Mourabitoun Claims Responsibility for Mali Siege, Al Jazeera". The New York Times. 
  34. ^ "Al Qaeda-affiliated group claims Mali hotel attack". Reuters. 20 November 2015. 
  35. ^ "Mali declares 10-day state of emergency following hotel attack". jagran.com. 21 November 2015. 
  36. ^ "Mali hotel attack: gunmen take hostages in Bamako – live updates". The Guardian. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  37. ^ "The Latest: Security Council Strongly Condemns Mali Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  38. ^ "China strongly condemns Mali hotel attack, confirms 3 nationals killed". Xinhua News Agency. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  39. ^ "Travel Advice for Mali". smartraveller.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  40. ^ "Mali travel advice". gov.uk. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  41. ^ "Statement from NSC Spokesman Ned Price on the Terrorist Attack in Mali". The White House. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  42. ^ "US ready to help Mali govt.: White House". presstv.com. 
  43. ^ "Messages for U.S. Citizens | Bamako, Mali – Embassy of the United States". mali.usembassy.gov. Retrieved 20 November 2015. 
  44. ^ Russia Beyond the Headlines: Bodies of Russian hostages killed in Mali to be transported home in a week
  45. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-34897745
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2015_Bamako_hotel_attack&oldid=692141501"