Mali hotel attack: Friday 20 November 2015 as it happened

Summary

Suspected Islamist gunmen have "no more hostages", officials say
At least 21 reported dead
170 people had been trapped in Radisson Blu hotel
Hotel popular with foreign businesses and airline crews
An al-Qaeda affiliated group says it was behind attack
The hotel's special information line: is +33 170837437

Live Reporting

Clare Spencer, Damian Zane, Hugo Williams and Naziru Mikailu

French cartoon honours Malian victimspublished at 19:04 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2015
French cartoonist Herve Baudry has pledged his solidarity to the victims of the Bamako hotel attack with a cartoon depicting the Eiffel tower in the colours of the Malian flag.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
A picture of the Eiffel tower transformed into the peace symbol went viral in the wake of the Paris attacks.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2
Mali President to hold emergency meetingpublished at 18:54 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2015
Mali's President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has returned to the capital Bamako to hold an emergency cabinet meeting with his ministers at 1900 GMT, according to the official Twitter feed of the presidency (below in French).
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
'Bamako will be free forever'published at 18:09
Malian singer Inna Modja has shared this picture from Bamako in support of her compatriots after the attack of a hotel nearby.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
The French part of the tweet says:
"The wings of Bamako will be free forever!"
Street artist Marco Contisikic painted the wings on walls across Bamako only a few weeks ago.
Could Bamako and Paris attacks be linked?published at 16.40
Just a week after the attacks on Paris, people are discussing if the attack on a hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako, could be linked.
Brett McGurk, the US Special Presidential Envoy to the coalition battling so-called Islamic State, told the MSNBC news channel that it is too early to tell.
He added that the groups in Mali aren't particularly connected to IS - and it now seems that an al-Qaeda off-shoot may have carried out the attack .
Meanwhile, politics and security analyst Andrew Lebovich says logistics make him doubt there's a link:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
African Union 'mourns with Mali victims' families'published at 16:36
AU's Peace and Security Commissioner tweets
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Mali radio station says hotel assault is overpublished at 16:29 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2015
A local Malian radio station which has been tweeting updates on the security operation at the Radisson Blu hotel in the capital, Bamako, is now saying that the assault of the hotel is over:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Belgian government official among victimspublished at 16.05
A Belgian government official was among those killed in the attack on the Radisson hotel in Mali, according to the parliament's official Twitter feed.
Geoffrey Dieudonne was in Mali to give a training seminar for civil servants, according to an official parliament statement., external
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
UK prime minister 'thinking of attacked in Mali'published at 15:58
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Mali minister says 'gunmen no longer holding hostages'published at 15.54
Mali's Security Minister Salif Traore has told a news conference that the gunmen in the Radisson hotel are no longer holding any hostages.
Mali's presidency has tweeted thanking the security forces and friendly countries for their support in the attacks on the Radisson, the luxury hotel in Bamako.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Solidarity with Malianspublished at 15:16
Tweet from Mali president's office
The heads of state from the G5 Sahel group - made up of Mali, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania - who are meeting in Chad's capital N'Djamena have expressed their condolences and solidarity with the people of Mali:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
In a second tweet the heads of state "vigorously condemn" the hostage taking:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2
Mali's president said he would cut short his visit to Chad because of the hostage situation.
'Active shooters' at Radisson Blu hotelpublished at 14:41
US authorities tweet
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post 2
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post 2
'Remain indoors in Bamako'published at 14:38
UK authorities tweet
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
UN helping rescued hostagespublished at 13:56 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2015
Local radio station Mikado FM has tweeted a picture of a UN ambulance, which it says is ready to evacuate 20 hostages who have been rescued from the hotel.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Latest picture of freed hostagespublished at 13:36
Local radio station Mikado FM is posting pictures on its Twitter account of people leaving the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
The radio station says that dozens of people have got out of the hotel.
Earlier, Mali's Interior Minister said that 30 hostages had been rescued.
Footage of hostage situationpublished at 13.33
Mali's state broadcaster ORTM has been showing footage of the ongoing hostage rescue operation by security forces:
This YouTube post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on YouTube
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. YouTube content may contain adverts.
Skip youtube video
Allow YouTube content?
This article contains content provided by Google YouTube. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Google’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. YouTube content may contain adverts.
End of youtube video
UN peacekeepers support hostage responsepublished at 13.32
The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali is providing support to authorities to help reinforce security around the hotel, as shown in this tweet by the local Mikado FM radio station.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Hotel sets up help linepublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 20 November 2015
Radisson Blu, whose hotel in Mali's capital, Bamako, was attacked by gunmen this morning has set-up special phone lines for families who may have been affected:
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Inside Mali's Radisson hotelpublished at 13:17
State TV ORTM in Mali has been broadcasting pictures of Malian soldiers preparing to storm the hotel.
French counter-terror troops en route to Bamakopublished at 12:24
France's Gendarmerie Nationale has tweeted photos of members of the elite GIGN counter-terror unit, leaving Paris to fly to Bamako in response to the ongoing hotel siege.
They come from the same elite unit who were deployed in the aftermath of the Paris attacks last week.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post
Air France crew safe after hotel siegepublished at 12.17
All 12 Air France crew who were caught up in the siege at the Radisson Hotel in Bamako have escaped and are safe, according to a tweet from the French airline (see below in French).
The group rescued was made up of two pilots and 10 cabin crew, according to the statement.
This Twitter post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Twitter
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip twitter post
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of twitter post