U.S. Africa Command said Friday that it has rescued six Americans from an active shooter situation in Mali’s capital city, and was helping to rescue other hostages.
Gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles launched an attack around 7 a.m. Friday at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, the capital of the West African nation. The attackers took dozens of hostages and have reportedly killed at least three people, according to CNN.
A defense official said there had not been a formal request for help from the U.S. military.
“About 25 U.S. military personnel were in Bamako at the time of the incident. We understand some of these personnel are assisting first responders with moving civilians to secured locations, while Malian forces clear the hotel of hostile gunmen,” the official said.
U.S. Africa Command tweeted out updates as the situation was unfolding:
6 U.S. citizens rescued so far in #Mali. 2 U.S. military personnel assisting outside hotel.
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) November 20, 2015
#Mali forces have the lead in Bamako. Small team of U.S. troops assisting with relocating rescued hostages.
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) November 20, 2015
Reuters reported that an al Qaeda-affiliated group, not the Islamic State, has claimed credit for the attack.
The attack comes exactly one week after seven terrorist attacks by the Islamic State in Paris, which killed 129 people.
