Islamists take hostages at Radisson Hotel in Africa; at least 3 die

THE NEW YORK TIMES
By Serge Dnaiel, Dionne Searcey and Adam Nossiter

Security forces evacuated residents from an area surrounding the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, on Friday. Credit Habibou Kouyate/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

MALI---At least two gunmen stormed a Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the capital of Mali, on Friday morning, and seized 140 guests and 30 staff members as hostages, killing at least three people. An operation to rescue the remaining hostages was underway amid indications that the hostage takers had been releasing Muslims and continuing to hold non-Muslims. [link]