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Mali Hunts Suspects Responsible For Terrorist Attack On Hotel, President Keita Says ‘Mali Will Not Shut Down Because Of This Attack. Terrorism Will Not Win’

By Louis Babcock
Published on: 13:46 PST, Nov 22, 2015

Officials in Mali are on the hunt for the suspects responsible for the terrorist attack on the Radisson Blu hotel. The suspects in Mali killed 19 people and injured at least 17 more. The president of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, issued a state of emergency that is set to last for 10 days. Keita also issued an edict for three days of mourning for the victims. Keita spoke outside the Radisson in Mali the day after the deadly attack.

“Mali is not and will never be a closed border zone. Paris isn’t, Geneva isn’t, New York isn’t, Moscow isn’t.”

The terrorist attack on the hotel happened on Friday morning. The suspects drove a vehicle through a security barrier and began shooting with their guns. The terrorists had control of the hotel until special forces from Mali, France, and the United States regained control of the Radisson. Before the hotel was liberated, 19 people died. Among the victims were two from Belgium, three from China, six from Russia, one from Israel, and one from the United States. It is still unknown how many terrorists that Mali officials are looking for. The number of suspects ranges from two to 13. Keita states that two of the terrorists were killed during the operation to regain control of the hotel. Malian army Major Modibo Nama Traore states, “The search has started and I can tell you that we are looking for more than three people at the moment.”

Anita Datar was the American killed in the attack. Datar’s family released a statement in conjunction with the United States State Department.

“Everything she did in her life she did to help others— as a mother, public health expert, daughter, sister and friend. And while we are angry and saddened that she has been killed, we know that she would want to promote education and healthcare to prevent violence and poverty at home and abroad, not intolerance.”

The groups taking responsibility for the attack are al-Mourabitoun and al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. Mokhtar Belmokhtar is the man who started al-Mourabitoun. Belmokhtar is from Algeria and was once a member of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. An airstrike by the United States over the summer is thought to have killed Belmokhtar, but his death has not been officially verified.

It is not thought that the attack in Mali has anything to do with the attacks in Paris. Mali was once a colony of France and France has helped Mali in previous terrorist attacks. In 2013, France intervened when a group of terrorists linked to al-Qaeda were on the verge of an attack on the capital of Mali.

Mali has been dealing with Islamist extremists for many years. A few months ago, another hotel in Mali was the target of an Islamist extremist gunman. In this attack, 13 people were killed. Five of those killed were from the United Nations.

Russia and China have publicly condemned the attack in Mali. In a telegram sent by Vladamir Putin he said, “the widest international cooperation” was needed to confront global terrorism.”

President Xi Jinping of China said, “China will strengthen cooperation with the international community, resolutely crack down on violent terrorist operations that devastate innocent lives and safeguard world peace and security.”

Many terrorist suspects from around the world are being hunted now. France is looking for one of the suspects from the Paris attack. Belgium is on lockdown while they search for terrorists who are posing an imminent threat and Mali forces are hunting for the suspects that killed 19 just a few days ago.

Will the hunt in Mali, France, and Belgium lead to the terrorist suspects being captured?

[Image Via Andrew Burton/Getty Images]

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