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UN Police help Mali Government with probe of deadly terrorist attack

Xinhua, November 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

The United Nations police (UNPOL) are providing Mali with support and technical expertise in the investigation of Friday's deadly terrorist attack on the Radisson hotel in Bamako, the West African country's capital, UN officials said here Monday.

On Nov. 20, the day of the "despicable terrorist attack," a force from the security and safety section, the Quick Reaction Force, and police segment of the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was on site together with medical care personnel, ambulances and fire trucks to provide all possible aid, the officials said, quoting a report by the Mission.

"I am impressed by the good coordination with the Malian Defence and Security Forces," UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative and MINUSMA head Mongi Hamdi said in a statement on the assault, in which at least 22 were killed, including three Chinese citizens, and dozens more were reportedly trapped for hours until the terrorists were overcome.

China Railway Construction Corporation Limited confirmed Saturday in an online statement that three executives of the company were killed in the attack.

Forty-five UN Police Officers (UNPOL) and 14 UN Security Officers were involved, according to Hamdi. He stressed that UNPOL support is still continuing the in follow-up investigation.

MINUSMA strongly condemns any action aiming to jeopardize the peace process and remains committed to support the people and Government of Mali in their efforts to bring back lasting peace to the country, the statement added.

The UN Mission was set up in 2013 to carry out security-related tasks and help to stabilize the country and implement a transitional roadmap following a coup and takeover of the north. It currently deploys more than 9,000 military personnel, some 1,180 police and an equal number of civilians on the ground.

Since a military coup struck Mali in March 2012, its northern region has served as a stronghold of the rebels.

Mali is now in the process of restoring democracy with the help of the United Nations and African regional bodies, including the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

Despite initial security improvements in 2013, the situation in northern Mali has deteriorated since the beginning of 2014. An increase in incidents involving improvised explosive devices, mostly targeting Malian and international security forces, has impeded the return to normalcy and resumption of economic and development activities. Endit