Terrorists attack luxury hotel in Mali capital, 170 taken hostage (Photos)

Terrorists armed with guns and grenades stormed a luxury hotel in Mali and took around 170 people hostage.

Around 10 jihadists attacked a Radisson Blu hotel in the centre of the country’s capital, Bamako, while shouting ‘Allahu Akbar’ and firing at security guards.

Supporters of an al Qaeda-affiliated group have now claimed responsibility for the attack.

Al-Mourabitoun, an African jihadist group made up mostly of Arabs and Tuaregs, posted a message on Twitter saying they were behind the siege.

At least three people have been killed in the ongoing siege – two Malian nationals and one French national, according to military officials.

Around 20 hostages were freed before troops raided the hotel. A small number of these were released by the attackers, after they proved they could quote verses from the Koran.

Radisson Blu says 136 people – 124 guests and 12 employees – are still trapped inside the building.

And the attackers have now barricaded themselves in on the hotel’s seventh floor.