Two Arrested Over Luxury Hotel Attack In Mali

Two people have been arrested over suspected links to last week's Bamako hotel attack, which killed at least 20 people.

Authorities in Mali detained the two suspects after they were interrogated about information found on one of the deceased attackers' mobile phones.

At least two armed men stormed the luxury Radisson Blu hotel last Friday, killing six Russians, three Chinese nationals, an American and several others.

The attack was the worst strike by Islamist extremists in Mali for years.

Malian commandos retook the hotel and freed 170 hostages following a siege lasting several hours. The two attackers were killed.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a splinter group al Mourabitoun and the Massina Liberation Front have all claimed responsibility for the attack.

One of those arrested had been in touch with one of the gunmen since August, according to a source close to the investigation.

Another had sent mobile phone credit to an attacker, the source added.

"It's only after questioning that we will find out if the second suspect sells phone credit or is an accomplice," the source said.

The US embassy in Bamako has warned of possible "further terrorist activity" in the city .

It has advised its citizens to avoid bars, restaurants and shopping centres in the wake of the attack.

Christophe Monbelli-Valloir, deputy police commissioner for the UN peacekeeping force MINUSMA, said a team from the FBI has arrived to help the Malian-led investigation into the attack.