A joint rescue mission by Mali troops and United States Special Forces finally ended a hostage situation Friday after 10 al Qaeda gunmen carrying grenades rushed into the Radisson Blue Hotel in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and took 170 people captive, but “sparing all Muslims inside”.

According to officials, who first reported the grisly news to French television station BFMTV, 27 people were killed.

Six Americans, thankfully, were saved in the rescue.

According to numerous sources, attackers arrived in a diplomatic car and locked in 140 guests and 30 employees inside the Bamako resort Friday morning.

This from the New York Daily News:

Al-Mourabitoun, an African Jihadist group affiliated with al Qaeda, claimed responsibility for the attack.

The armed Islamic attackers, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” as they overran the five-star resort, released hostages who were able to recite the Koran, a security source said.

American military personnel already in Africa “have helped move civilians to secure locations, as Malian forces work to clear the hotel of hostile gunmen,” said Col. Mark R. Cheadle, a spokesman for the U.S. Africa Command.

Stay tuned to the blog for more on this developing story.

UPDATE: