170 Hostages Taken in Mali; At Least 3 Dead

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http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/20/africa/mali-shooting/index.html

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamanko, Mali (the nation's capitol) has been stormed by gunmen (probably Boko Haram - an ISIS proxy). 170 Hostages taken as of 6:30 EST; three deaths reported.

Good chance that this could become Paris II, but then again, it's in Africa, so nobody really cares tbh.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Hey yeah, f**k.

I was only beginning to 'recover' from Paris attacks and now, this morning, I'm awoken by this on radio again.

Personally, I was like, 'f**k no, not again...'.

Those bloody guys just don't give a rest to anybody.

And yeah, that 'Paris II' might not be irrelevant at all.

First the kind of operations, big hostages taking by strong commando in a capitale.

Second, Mali, the country in which France directly intervened to prevent the full invasion of the country in 2013.

A quite close country to France too culturally through the different kinds of ties that both countries had together.

Hollande had Mali president on phone and already made a speech.

40 French assault police guys have been sent there.

But apparently, Malian forces also manage to progress in the hostel according to what I hear on radio.

About who it could be, well, several possibilities, the big fishes in Mali use to be Ansar dine (Jihadist Touaregs) or that good old AQMI, eventually MUJAO too, or any new things that might have been created outhere. Those were the ones that invaded the north and were close to take the whole before France intervenes.

If ever it is Boko Haram, which yeah officially joined IS, but whicgh still seems to have a big enough independence, then it would be something symboically that theu can strike that nort.

It might as well be a kind of new 'IS in Mali' thing.

In both cases would give an always bigger image to them.

Ah and, France, Belgium, Mali, yay, Francophone world...

F**k.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Malian forces are progressing, floor by floor.

80 hostages freed.

138 still taken.

125 customers and 13 employeds.

Hostages are now entranched at 7th floor. Dunno many floors there is.

There too this would be somé kinda pro, because most reports speak about 2 or 3 gunmen only, and the guys managed to enter thanks to diplomatic papers.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/20/africa/mali-shooting/index.html

The Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamanko, Mali (the nation's capitol) has been stormed by gunmen (probably Boko Haram - an ISIS proxy). 170 Hostages taken as of 6:30 EST; three deaths reported.

Good chance that this could become Paris II, but then again, it's in Africa, so nobody really cares tbh.

Probably not Boko Haram, but Mali's own Ansar Dine or the more regional Al-Mourabitoun.  Mali would be a bit far afield for Boko Haram.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Ok, so 2015 is terrorist fest all the way and competition ground in France and Mali for each terrorist grôups.

According to Al Jazeera, it's a group call Al Mourabitoun that claims the attack.

That group is the one that had already claimed the terror attack against a restaurant in Bamako in March 2015.

Those ate not tied IS, and are in their classical area.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

I thout a faction of Al Mourabitoun has proclaimed allegiance to ISIL, while another had rejected it.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

This I don't know, when you see how fast such or such little fringe can suddenly call for such or such label...

So far journalist mainly speak about Mokthar Belmokthar, the historical chief,  AQMI, who knows.

Breaking:

Malian minister to AFP:

'No more hostages'

...alive?

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

And a Malian journalist on itélé says that according to his official sources there still are hostages...

Welcome...

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Hmm...

France24 now, according to Malian army 132 hostages freed...

But assault still ongoing.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

France Inter:

18 found bodies

1 Belgian official

Assault still going on amongst floors.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

A military source to AFP:

2 terrorists killed

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Malian military source:

Hostage taking over.

French Foreign Ministry prefers to stay cautious.

[Bunwahaha [still dunno why, but well, so be it]]

Officially over according to Malian Authorities.

Officially claimed by Al Mourabitoun in the name of AQMI.

The reason they give for it is that French speacial forces killed their chief (well, their 'new' chief, it was never sure that Belmokhtar had actually been killed before, now this would be sure if the guy more recently killed was the new one, in case you get everything ^^).