UN, French join Friday Mali hotel attack probe

Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni and his Malian counterpart Ibrahim Boubacar Keita near Radisson Blu Hotel on November 23, 2015. Looking on is the hotel’s director Gary Elli. PHOTO | HABIBOU KOUYATE | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Security was tightened at hotels in Bamako, while neighbouring nations of Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea joined in the three days of mourning over Friday’s bloodshed.

  • Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni said after visiting the Radisson Blu Hotel, where the killings took place, that the attack was aimed at frightening off international investors.

  • Prosecutor Boubacar Sidiki Samake, who is in charge of the anti-terrorist probe, said that the toll had climbed from 19 to 20 dead, with nine people injured.

  • The attack has been claimed by two separate jihadist groups and investigators are searching for possible accomplices.

  • Despite a state of emergency, Bamako residents were trying to return to normal life.

BAMAKO, Tuesday

French and UN investigators joined a Mali police probe into a jihadist siege at a luxury hotel that left at least 20 dead, as flags were lowered on Monday.

Security was tightened at hotels in Bamako, while neighbouring nations of Senegal, Mauritania and Guinea joined in the three days of mourning over Friday’s bloodshed.

Benin’s President Thomas Yayi Boni said after visiting the Radisson Blu Hotel, where the killings took place, that the attack was aimed at frightening off international investors.

The assault began on Friday morning when gunmen went on the rampage at the hotel, shooting in the corridors and taking 170 guests and staff hostage before Malian and international troops stormed the building.

Prosecutor Boubacar Sidiki Samake, who is in charge of the anti-terrorist probe, said that the toll had climbed from 19 to 20 dead, with nine people injured.

Two gunmen were also killed in the attack, he said on public television.

The UN peacekeeping force in Mali, Minusma, which is helping with the inquiry, gave the same toll.

The hotel was popular with businessmen, diplomats and other expatriates and many foreigners were among those killed, including six Russians, three Chinese, two Belgians, an American, an Israeli and a Senegalese.

ATTACK CLAIMED BY TWO GROUPS

The attack has been claimed by two separate jihadist groups and investigators are searching for possible accomplices.

“It is clear that they had accomplices who helped them come to the hotel,” he said about the gunmen, adding that police had staged several raids on homes.

Police found a suitcase with grenades in the hotel lobby and were following up “several leads” linked to objects left by the gunmen, a Malian police source said.

The Al-Murabitoun group, an Al-Qaeda affiliate led by notorious one-eyed Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The group said there were only two attackers and suggested they were Malian.

In a recording broadcast by Al-Jazeera, a spokesman identified them as Abdelhakim al-Ansari and Moez al-Ansari, the term “al-Ansari” indicating they were indigenous jihadists.

But a jihadist group from central Mali, the Macina Liberation Front (LWF), also claimed the attack in a statement sent to AFP, saying it was carried out by a squad of five, “including three who came out safe and sound”.

STATE OF EMERGENCY

Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino Diabate, who was among the survivors, told AFP the gunmen spoke English.

On Monday, national TV released photos of two dead men said to be the attackers, along with a telephone number to call to offer information.

French forensic specialists have arrived in Bamako to help with the identification of victims.

Despite a state of emergency, Bamako residents were trying to return to normal life.

“People are not being vigilant. I don’t know if it is because of the problems of daily life,” said hotel worker Daouda Sissoko.

Others are concerned that the attack will have more economic repercussions for a country still recovering from a 2012-13 civil war.

Mali has been torn apart by unrest since the north fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda in 2012.