One of the 80 freed Mali hotel hostages shares his experience (Photos)

Malian special forces stormed a luxury hotel in Bamako on Friday after Islamist gunmen took 170 people including many foreigners hostage in the capital.

 

State television said 80 hostages had been freed and at least three people had been killed in the initial attack.Those freed include ,12 Air France staff ,Guinean singer Sekouba Bambino and three Turkish Airlines staff.

Guinean singer Sekouba 'Bambino' Diabate, who was freed by Malian security forces said

I heard them say in English 'Did you load it?', 'Let's go,' 'I wasn't able to see them because in these kinds of situations it's hard. I woke up with the sounds of gunshots and for me, it was just small bandits who came in the hotel to claim something. After 20 or 30 minutes, I realized these are not just petty criminals,'

US and French Special Forces have reportedly stormed the hotel and have began to clear the building one floor at a time.