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The U.S. embassy in Mali issued a "duck and cover" warning Monday after gunmen stormed a European Union training facility.
One witness said the gunmen targeted Bamako's Nord-Sud Hotel, which the EU had converted into a facility where nearly 600 of its military personnel are deployed.
"The attackers tried to force through the entry and the guards posed in front of the entrance opened fire. One attacker was killed. The gunfire continued for several minutes," the witness told Reuters.
EUTM-MALI HQ has been attacked. No EUTM-Mali personnel has been hurt or injured during the attack. EUTM-Mali is at the securing the area.
— eutmmali (@eutmmali1) March 21, 2016
"EUTM-MALI HQ has been attacked. No EUTM-Mali personnel has been hurt or injured during the attack. EUTM-Mali is at the securing the area," the mission tweeted shortly after 4 p.m. Monday.
The U.S. embassy in Mali's capital city of Bamako tweeted that the diplomatic compound was in "duck and cover" status. Citizens were being urged to avoid the area and "shelter in place."
1/2 The U.S. Emb is aware of small arms fire in the ACI2000 neighborhood in the vicinity of the ORA Bank, Nord-Sud Hotel &Toyota dealership
— U.S. Embassy Bamako (@USEmbassyMali) March 21, 2016
2/2 Citizens should avoid ACI2000 area until further notice & shelter in place. Emb compound is in duck&cover status. More info to follow.
— U.S. Embassy Bamako (@USEmbassyMali) March 21, 2016
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, according to Reuters.
Malian forces were responding to the scene, a defense ministry spokesman said.
The State Department did not immediately respond to TheBlaze when asked to comment.
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