Terrorists having nothing to do with Islam, armed with AK-47s and hand grenades, screamed “Allahu akbar!” as they attacked the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali. The non-Muslim terrorists have killed at least three people and are holding approximately 170 hostages. In an ecumenical gesture, the terrorists allowed hostages to leave if they were able to recite from the Quran.
American and French special forces are now reported to be clearing the hotel, floor by floor. There are reports that some hostages may have been rescued.
Actually, the only surprising thing about this story is that there is a Radisson Blu in Mali.
UPDATE: The siege has now ended. News reports say that at least 27 people have been killed. I am not sure whether this total includes terrorists. Reports so far are fragmentary and don’t seem to make a lot of sense. It isn’t clear how so many hostages managed to escape or to be rescued. No doubt the facts will become clearer over time.
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