Al Mourabitoun

Al Mourabitoun

Al Mourabitoun, an Islamist militant group, claims it is jointly responsible for this morning's attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali, according to Mauritanian news agency Al Akhbar. The group announced it carried out the attack with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the news agency reported.

Assailants attacked the hotel, which was hosting diplomats and others, in Bamako. At least 21 people were killed and dozens were trapped for hours, officials in the West African nation said. Malian and U.N. Security forces launched a counterattack and escorted guests out. By late afternoon, no hostages were believed to remain in the building, army Col. Mamadou Coulibaly told reporters.

One American died and "About a dozen" Were rescued, the State Department said. Ref. CNN