Gunmen kill two at African resort popular with Westerners
At least two people have been killed by suspected jihadists at a holiday resort in West Africa.
The gunmen took hostages at a spot in Mali’s capital on the weekend. Around 30 managed to get away but at least two people were killed.
#Mali #Bamako – Pic from the attack site Campement #Kangaba. (via @RamiAILolah) pic.twitter.com/YdGsv0nLzJ
— Terror Events (@TerrorEvents) June 18, 2017
A security official with the UN mission known as MINUSMA said gunfire was heard at the Campement Kangaba on the outskirts of Bamako late on Sunday.
#Mali #Bamako – This is what Campement #Kangaba, a tourist resort frequented by westerners, looks like. pic.twitter.com/qRYG8VmIsb
— Terror Events (@TerrorEvents) June 18, 2017
The official who did not want to be identified told reporters “I heard gunfire coming from the camp and I saw people running out of the site,” said Modibo Diarra, who lives nearby.
#BREAKING
Sound of gunfire reported at #LeCampement #Kangaba, a resort in #Mali, acc’d to statement from #Mali‘s UN Mission.#Bamako pic.twitter.com/bmjD2Ko9zo— Devon Heinen (@DevonHeinen) June 18, 2017
“I learned that it was a terrorist attack.” Malian soldiers later succeeded in entering the resort area, according to Commandant Modibo Traore, a spokesman for the Malian special forces in the former French colony.
“The operation is ongoing,” he said, estimating there were three or four assailants.
Mali’s security minister’s issued a statement confirming at least two deaths, one of which was a dual French-Gabonese citizen.
One of the suspected attackers who was wounded in the attack managed to escape, the ministry added.