BAMAKO (Reuters) – Gunmen yesterday attacked a hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, that had been converted into the headquarters of a European Union military training operation, but there no casualties among the mission’s personnel.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which began at around 6.30 pm local time (1830 GMT), but Mali and neighbouring West African countries have increasingly been the target of Islamist militants, some of them affiliated with al Qaeda.
One of the assailants was killed and two suspects were arrested and were being interrogated, the country’s internal security minister said.
A witness said the attack targeted Bamako’s Nord-Sud Hotel, headquarters for the mission of nearly 600 EU personnel deployed to Mali to train its security forces.
“The attackers tried to force through the entry and the guards posted in front of the entrance opened fire. One attacker was killed,” he said.
Sekou Tamboura was also near the hotel when the shooting erupted.
“We were next to the Hamdallaye Cemetery when the first shot rang out, then there was a second and a third. There were a few seconds of pause, then it kicked off and did not stop. It was every man for himself,” Tamboura said.
