Some 27 people were killed after security services ended a siege in a hotel in the capital of Mali on Friday. Special Forces raided the building after suspected Islamist gunmen stormed the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako at around 7am in the morning.
Some of the attackers may still be holed up within the hotel, the Washington Post reported, but they do not hold any hostages.
The gunmen reportedly entered the hotel shouting "God is great!" in Arabic, and shooting indiscriminately. At least three people were confirmed dead earlier, and 170 were taken hostage. According to the BBC, the 190-room hotel is popular venue for foreign businesses and airline crews.
Among the three killed was Geoffrey Dieudonne, a member of the Belgian parliament. US Special Forces, aided by their French and Malian counterparts, carried out the raid.
The government of the former French colony has been fighting rebels allied to al Qaeda for several years. According to Reuters, some of the hostages were freed by the attackers if they could prove they could recite verses from the Quran.
Al-Mourabitou, a group affiliated with al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack. No link has been established with last week's atrocity in Paris that killed 132 people. The Islamic State is not believed to have a foothold in the region.
Mali Attack
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages at Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali on November 20, 2015. (Photo by Moussa Bolly/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages at Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali on November 20, 2015. (Photo by Habibou Kouyate/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Malian security forces evacuate a man from an area surrounding the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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A body is removed from the Radisson Blu hotel, after it was stormed by gunmen during a attack on the hotel in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Islamic extremists armed with guns and grenades stormed the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Friday morning, and security forces worked to free guests floor by floor. (AP Photo/Harouna Traore) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages, including 140 guests and 30 employees at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital Bamako. (Photo by Habibou Kouyate/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages, including 140 guests and 30 employees at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital Bamako. (Photo by Habibou Kouyate/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Members of special forces are seen inside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015, after the assault of security forces. Suspected Islamist gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Mali's capital on November 20, firing automatic weapons and seizing more than 100 guests and staff in a hostage-taking that has left at least 22 people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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Members of special forces are seen inside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015, after the assault of security forces. Suspected Islamist gunmen stormed a luxury hotel in Mali's capital on November 20, firing automatic weapons and seizing more than 100 guests and staff in a hostage-taking that has left at least 22 people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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Malian soldiers and special forces stand guard at the entrance the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015, after the assault of security forces. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages, including 140 guests and 30 employees at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital Bamako. (Photo by Habibou Kouyate/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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In this TV image taken from Mali TV ORTM, security forces crouch down outside the Radisson Blu Hotel hotel in Bamako, Mali, Friday Nov. 20, 2015. Men shouting "God is great" and armed with guns and throwing grenades stormed into the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali's capital Friday morning. (Mali TV ORTM, AP) MALI OUT (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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An ambulance seen outside the Radisson Blu hotel, after an attack by gunmen on the hotel, in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Islamic extremists armed with guns and grenades stormed the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Friday morning, and security forces worked to free guests floor by floor. (AP Photo/Harouna Traore) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages at Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali on November 20, 2015. (Photo by Moussa Bolly/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages at Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali on November 20, 2015. (Photo by Moussa Bolly/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages at Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali on November 20, 2015. (Photo by Moussa Bolly/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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BAMAKO, MALI - NOVEMBER 20 : Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen have taken 170 hostages at Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali on November 20, 2015. (Photo by Moussa Bolly/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) (credit:Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
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Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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Malian security forces escort a hostage freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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Malian security forces prepare to transport hostages freed from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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Malian security forces evacuate two women from an area surrounding the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking that has left at least three people dead. AFP PHOTO / HABIBOU KOUYATE (Photo credit should read HABIBOU KOUYATE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:HABIBOU KOUYATE via Getty Images)
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Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking, the hotel chain said. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC (Photo credit should read Sebastien RIEUSSEC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC via Getty Images)
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Malian troops take position outside the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking, the hotel chain said. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC (Photo credit should read Sebastien RIEUSSEC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC via Getty Images)
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Malian security forces take position near the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako on November 20, 2015. Gunmen went on a shooting rampage at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Mali's capital Bamako, seizing 170 guests and staff in an ongoing hostage-taking, the hotel chain said. AFP PHOTO / SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC (Photo credit should read Sebastien RIEUSSEC/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:SEBASTIEN RIEUSSEC via Getty Images)
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Onlookers gather near the Radisson Blu hotel after gunmen stormed the building in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Men shouting "God is great" and armed with guns and throwing grenades stormed into the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali's capital Friday morning.(AP Photo/Harouna Traore) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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Security force personnel escort people fleeing from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. The company that runs the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali's capital says assailants have takenhostages in a brazen assault involving grenades. (AP Photo/Harouna Traore) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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People run to flee from the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. The company that runs the Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali's capital says assailants have takenhostages in a brazen assault involving grenades. (AP Photo/Harouna Traore) (credit:ASSOCIATED PRESS)
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