US special forces free 6 American hostages from jihadist gunmen

Armed jihadists killed at least three people in a deadly shooting rampage at the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, Mali, which also saw 170 people taken hostage. Automatic weapons fire was heard throughout the seventh floor of the 190-room hotel, where it is thought as many as ten militants have been going floor to floor taking hostages. Three of them have been killed. More pics after the cut...

One hostage who escaped said the militants were speaking to each other in English. Another witness described how the gunmen allowed around 20 hostages to leave safely after they proved they were able to recite verses of the Koran.

US and French Special Forces stormed the hotel and began clearing the building one floor at a time. No group has claimed responsibility for the hotel attack, which is frequently used by Air France crew, although Al Qaeda affiliated militants have previously carried out attacks in Mali.