Three people have reportedly died after gunmen stormed a Raddison hotel in Mali.
The unidentified men attacked the hotel in the country's capital of Bamako at around 8am on Friday and have been reported as holding hostages.
"Very early in the morning there was gunfire. Apparently it's an attempt to take hostages. The police are there and are sealing off the area," a security source told Reuters.
Lcoal news reports claim the gumen arrived at the hotel in a vehicle with a diplomatic pass.
In a release, the US embassy said there was an "active shooter operation at the Radisson Hotel." It advised people to contact their families and monitor local media for updates.
The hotel, which has around 120 rooms, is well known in the city and is popular with both foreign tourists and companies.
This story will be updated shortly.
