3 Dead after Gunmen Take Hostages at Luxury Hotel in Mali [UPDATE] 27 Presumed Dead

UPDATE

A senior United Nations offical reported that at least 27 people have died in the Mali hotel attack, according to the New York Times.

Original Story

Gunmen have taken over a luxury hotel in the capital of Mali, Bamako, on Friday morning. A counterassault is underway, French President François Hollande said.

The attackers, who stormed the Radisson Blu hotel at around 7 a.m. with AK-47 rifles, initially held 170 hostages and killed at least three people - two Malian nationals and one French national. Two Malian solders were reportedly injured by gunfire.

Army commander Modibo Nama Traore stated that special forces were getting the hostages out safely, "floor by floor," USA TODAY reported. At least 80 hostages were freed by noon. The hotel has 30 employees and 140 guests. It is unclear how many people were at the hotel during the attack.

General Didier Dacko of the Malian Army said that might be four to five attackers involved, but the exact number is still unclear. One employee from the hotel reported seeing three gunman while another source stated that there were as many as 10. That source added that the men had screamed, "Allahu Akbar," which means "God is great" in Arabic, before shooting the security guards.

The hotel is a popular choice for foreigners. A Chinese diplomat stated that eight Chinese businessmen were trapped in the hotel. Air France reported that 12 crewmembers were among the hostages that were freed. Another five crewmembers from Turkish airlines were also freed, although two are reportedly still inside the hotel, the Turkish government said. 20 Indians are being held hostage as well.

The identities of the gunmen are unknown and no group has come forward to claim responsibility.

Traore stated that at least one of the hostages said that that the attackers made him recite verses from the Quran before they let him go. There has been a presence of active radical Islamists tied to al-Qaeda in Northern Mali since 2012. In 2013, the radicals were pushed out with the help of the French. However, remnants of the group have been carrying out several attacks over the years.

The Islamic State, who has tried to create a presence in North Africa, does not have a strong occupation in West Africa.

The authorities have not found any direct links between this attack and the terrorist attacks in Paris last week that were carried out by the Islamic State.