A popular hotel in the capital of Mali has been seiged by gunmen on Friday who have seuzed a number of hostages and left bodies strewn across parts of the resort.

It is unclear why the Radisson Blu hotel was targeted. However, reports indicate that it is popular with foreigner in the country.

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A senior United Nations representative said that as many as 27 people have been kiled, according to the preliminary investigation of the devastating attack. The bodies of the dead have been left strewn accros the basement and the second floor of the hotel.

General Didier Dacko of the Malian army said that four or five gunmen have taken more than 100 hostages. He revealed that the army has cordoned off the surrounding areas in search of the terrorist gunmen.

There are reports that nearby areas have been evacuated in fear of the terror attack spreading towards those areas. The evacuated tourists and residents have been taken to a nearby gymnasium.

American defense official Col. Mark Cheadle said that there were 12 to 15 Americans inside the hotel when the gunmen arrived. So far six of those Americans have been rescued from the crisis and that they are "currently helping move civilians to secure locations as the Malian forces work to clear Radisson Blu of the hostile gunmen."

This seige in Mali, which is a former French colony, comes only a week after the horrible terrorist attacks in Paris that left 129 dead.

Tagshostage-taking, Mali, Mali Hotel Hostages, Mali Hotel Seige, Radisson Blu hotel, Radisson Blu hotel Attack