At least 27 people died in an attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali.

According to the United Nations, the attack was conducted by at least three people who stormed the building and indiscriminately aimed at hotel guests. Inside the hotel are 170 hostages, some of whom were later released after successfully reciting the Islamic profession of faith.

The hotel's maitre d' told CNN, "These people started shooting. They were shooting at everybody without asking a single question. They were shooting at anything that moved."

He also mentioned that one of them yelled "Allahu akbar."

A more detailed report from The Guardian stated that a group of gunmen drove into the hotel compound using a car with diplomatic plates. They then fired at the guards, and according to witnesses, also used grenades as they took hostage about 170 people, including diplomats, business people and airline crew from France and Turkey.

Malian special forces with assistance from the U.S. and France stormed the hotel and cleared the building by floor.

The attack comes just a week after the Islamic State ravaged Paris, however, the extremist group did not claim responsibility for Mali.

Al Qaeda-affiliated group Al Mourabitoun announced that they carried out the attack in Mali, as a form of retaliation for government aggression in the northern part of the country.

The Wall Street Journal noted that among the 27 dead are three Chinese nationals, one Belgian and one American, identified as Anita Datar, a 41-year-old woman from Takoma Park, Md. The New York Daily News noted that of the dead, 12 bodies were found in the basement, and fifteen others on the second floor of the building.

The attack in the Radisson is yet another demonstration of the complex fight of Islamist terrorism. Andrew Lebovich, a visiting fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations explained, "This is the attack that we've all been waiting for the last two years. Everybody who follows Mali has been surprised that this hasn't happened before."

"You have so many various groups trying to make their day in the sun. We'll continue to have these attacks," he concluded.

ABC News reported President Barack Obama speaking about the attack, saying, "On behalf of the American people I want to extend our deepest condolences to the people of Mali and the victims and families, including at least one American."

"These were innocent people who had everything to live for, and they'll be remembered for the joy and love that they brought to the world," he continued.