Mali: Shooting at hotel in central capital Ramako

(Baonghean.vn) - On November 20, extremist jihadists opened fire on the Radisson Hotel located in the center of the capital Ramako, Mali.

Location of the Radisson Hotel, where the shooting took place. Photo: Google Maps.

On the morning of November 20, a series of automatic gunfire was heard by witnesses outside the Radisson Hotel.

A security source said the shooting took place on the 7th floor of the hotel. The terrorists opened fire in the hallway.

Police are currently setting up a security perimeter around the Radisson Hotel and are working to rescue the hostages.

Up to this point, the number of casualties has not been counted.

It is known that the Radisson hotel with 190 rooms is a frequent destination for foreign tourists, most of whom are French tourists.

A security source said the terrorists were traveling in a car with diplomatic plates. At the time, the two attackers were holding 170 hostages, including 140 tourists and 30 staff.

Immediately after receiving the news, the French army in Mali was mobilized to the scene. It is known that France is maintaining 1,000 soldiers in Mali.

Meanwhile, the US Embassy issued a notice asking its citizens in Mali to stay off the streets.

Reuters news agency quoted a senior Malian military official as saying that the terrorists had released some hostages. According to this source, those released were mainly those who could recite the Koran.

Malian police surround the Radisson hotel. Photo: AFP

A security spokesman has just announced that special forces have rescued more than 10 people, including 3 women.

Regarding the nationality of the 140 hostages, according to the latest information from Xinhua News Agency, some Chinese citizens are present in the Ridisson Hotel.

Turkish officials confirmed that six members of the Turkish airline were being held by terrorists. The Paris government also announced that its citizens were being held by terrorists.

According to Mali's Security Minister, at least three hostages have been killed so far.

At 9:20 a.m. (about 6:12 p.m. Vietnam time), China's state-run CCTV reported that the Chinese Embassy in Mali said that "about 10 Chinese citizens were present at the hotel and were staying in the room." These people are employees of a Chinese company and are "safe so far."

By 9:45 a.m., the Malian army, the French army, the United Nations force (Minusma) and medical teams were deployed to the area of ​​the terrorist attack to assist the Malian government in rescuing hostages and capturing the perpetrators.

Police evacuated people around the Radisson hotel. Photo: AP

Türkiye's Anadolu news agency said that five members, including two pilots of Turkish Airlines, who were kidnapped at the Radisson Hotel have been released.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. According to military sources and witnesses, the attackers shouted "Allahu Akbar" (God is great) before opening fire.

By 10:15 a.m., Mali television reported that 80 other hostages had been released.

"The special forces freed 30 hostages and the others escaped on their own," Security Minister Salif Traoré told AFP in a general interview.

Following the kidnapping and attack at the Radisson Hotel, Mali President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita left N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, to return to Bamako.

Chu Thanh

(According to Le Monde)