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20Nov15
Al Qaeda group claims credit for attack on hotel in Mali's capital
Al Murabitoon, an al Qaeda group that operates in West Africa, has claimed responsibility for this morning's suicide assault on a luxury hotel in Bamako, Mali. Al Murabitoon claimed it executed the hotel siege in conjunction with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, al Qaeda's official branch in North Africa.
The al Qaeda group claimed the Bamako attack in a statement that was sent to Al Jazeera. The operation was carried "in coordination with the Sahara Emirate of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb," it claimed.
Al Murabitoon said its fighters would release hostages held at the hotel for "the liberation of the mujahideen in Bamako's prisons." Additionally, it demanded that Malian and French forces stop "the oppression of the people of northern Mali." The jihadists threatened to execute the hostages if its demands are not met and said it would release a complete statement on the attack at a later time.
Today's attack began when jihadists, purportedly driving a vehicle with diplomatic plates, penetrated the Radisson Blu's security perimeter and then shot their way into the hotel. Once inside, the gunmen are sad to have searched the hotel "floor by floor, room by room" according to Reuters. The attackers were heard yelling "Allahu Akbar," or "God is greatest," in Arabic while fanning out through the hotel.
The jihadists are said to have taken 170 hostages, including number of American, French, Chinese, and Indian citizens. An estimated 80 hostages were freed after they were able to correctly recite verses of the Koran. The tactic of separating Muslims from other hostages is one that is often used by al Qaeda to avoid killing Muslims.
Malian special forces as well as US Special forces are said to have assaulted the hotel in an effort to free the hostages. Six Americans are said to have been freed by US Special Forces.
Al Murabitoon is led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a veteran African jihadist who is openly loyal to Ayman al Zawahiri and has denounced the Islamic State. Belmokhtar and his followers have been behind several spectacular attacks in West Africa over the past several years, including the January 2013 suicide assault on the In Amenas gas facility in southeastern Algeria, and the May 2013 suicide assaults in Niger that targeted a military barracks and a uranium mine. Scores of people were killed in these attacks.
Belmokhtar and his unit are listed by the US as a specially designated global terrorist and a Foreign Terrorist Organization, respectively.
The Sahara branch of AQIM is led by Yahya Abu Hammam, who is listed by the US as a specially designated global terrorist for playing a "key role in the group's ongoing terrorist activities in North Africa and Mali."
[Source: By Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss, The Long War Journal, 20Nov15]
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 | This document has been published on 30Nov15 by the Equipo Nizkor and Derechos Human Rights. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. |