Al-Qaeda in Mali Claim Responsibility for Hotel Attack

Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015.
HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images
Mary Chastain

Al-Qaeda has released this statement in regards to the hotel attack in Mali at the Radisson Blu:

The group takes responsibility for the attack by the Murabiteen. The group called the terrorists “brave knights in revenge for the Prophet” against those “who mocked and ridiculed the prophet.”

They also took responsibility for the assassination of General Mohamed Ould Mido, bombing of Minusma forces and the French, and rocket attacks in Ansongo.

The hostage situation is over, but UN peacekeepers discovered 27 dead bodies in the hotel. At least two terrorists died, but some reports claim four other attackers are in a hotel room.

Al-Mourabitoun is a terrorist group mostly made up of Tuaregs and Arabs in northern Mali. It was formed in 2013, “by uniting fighters loyal to [Mokhtar] Belmokhtar, one of the Sahara’s best known jihadists, and MUJWA.” The UN, Australia, U.S., and others categorize them as a terrorist group. The leaders announced allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in May. However, Belmokhtar took back the pledge because it was not approved.

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