Siege at Mali hotel over, 22 dead

AFP:

Suspected Islamist gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Mali's capital Friday, firing automatic weapons and seizing more than 100 guests and staff in a hostage-taking that has left at least 22 people dead.

Special forces carried out a dramatic floor-by-floor rescue at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, according to local television and security sources, eventually ending the siege about nine hours after it had begun.

The assault added to fears about the global jihadist threat a week after the Paris massacre that left 130 people dead although it was not immediately clear if there was a link.

Malian television broadcast chaotic scenes from inside the hotel as police and other security personnel ushered bewildered and terrified guests along corridors and across the main lobby.

"They currently have no more hostages in their hands and forces are in the process of tracking them down," Security Minister Salif Traore told a news conference.

Malian security sources said at least 22 hostages had been killed, adding that French special forces were "participating in operations alongside Malians".

Two of the gunmen had been killed, according to a Malian military source.
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It sounds like some of the killers may have escaped.  The special ops actually responded pretty quickly to the mass murder for Allah event.  They are still having to identify the victims.