Authorities in Mali have arrested a third man believed to be linked to
last month's deadly al Qaeda attack on a beach resort in neighbouring
Ivory Coast, military officials said on Sunday.
The feet and utility belt of what Ivorian security officers said was a
dead attacker is seen on the beach in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, March
13, 2016. REUTERS/Joe Penney
BAMAKO: Authorities in Mali have arrested a third man
believed to be linked to last month's deadly al Qaeda attack on a beach
resort in neighbouring Ivory Coast, military officials said on Sunday.
Gunmen shot swimmers and sunbathers before storming hotels
in the town of Grand Bassam, killing 19 people 40 km (25 miles) from the
commercial capital, Abidjan, on March 13.
One source said Alou Doumbia was arrested on Saturday in the
Malian capital of Bamako and suspected of driving the gunmen from Mali
to Ivory Coast.
A second police source confirmed the arrest but was unable to provide further detail.
Saturday's arrest was the third reported in Mali linked to
the Grand Bassam attacks, that were claimed by Al Qaeda in the Islamic
Maghreb (AQIM), the Islamist group's North African branch..
Eleven Ivorians, including three special forces' soldiers, died in
the attack. Four French citizens were killed and other foreign victims
included citizens of Germany, Lebanon, Macedonia and Nigeria.
Ivory Coast authorities have also arrested 15 people and say
the ringleader, who they named as Kounta Dallah, was still at large.
A spokesman for the Mali security ervices was not immediately available for comment.
(Reporting By Tiemoko Diallo, writing by Edward McAllister)
- Reuters
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