Ten gunmen on Friday have killed at least three people and are holding 137 hostages inside the luxury Radisson Blu Hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako. The three deceased include two Malian nationals and one French person. According to a statement from the hotel, 124 guests and 13 staff members are still in the premises.

Around 80 hostages have been freed since the attack began on Friday morning, according to reports. The Indian ambassador in Mali confirmed that all 20 Indians in the hotel have been safely evacuated, the external affairs ministry announced. Those who have escaped so far include five Turkish Airline staff and 12 Air France staff. The hotel guests include Turkish, French, Chinese and Guinean citizens. The United Nations, the United States and France have sent reinforcements to the scene.

AFP reported that jihadists had launched a shooting rampage in the hotel and automatic weapons firing could be heard from outside the hotel. Malian army commander Modibo Nama Traore confirmed that 10 gunmen stormed the hotel, shot at security guards and took hostages. At least two private security guards were also injured in the attack, according to the hotel’s head of security.

Islamist groups have continued to wage attacks in the West African nation despite a peace deal signed in June between rebels in the north of the country and pro-government forces, reported AFP. In August, suspected Islamist gunmen had killed 13 people, including five UN workers, during a hostage siege at a hotel in Mali.