Mali hotel terrorists shot at 'anything that moved' and hunted for Air France crew

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Gunmen hunted for Air France crew: Mali hotel terrorists shot at 'anything that moved' in hunt for foreigners - and one jihadist even stopped to cook a meal in the kitchen before continuing massacre
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Two al-Qaeda gunmen were looking to kill Air France crew inside hotel
Jihadis targeted foreigners due to France's counter-terrorism action in Mali
Gunman cooked himself a meal in kitchen before continuing massacre
Security guard delayed gunmen by deliberately giving them the wrong directions to the rooms of the Air France crew

By Tom Wyke and Julian Robinson for MailOnline

Published: 06:12 EST, 23 November 2015 | Updated: 07:05 EST, 23 November 2015

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The two al-Qaeda gunmen who carried out the deadly massacre at the Radisson Blu hotel in Mali were hunting for members of the Air France crew staying in the building.

Malian security officials believe the horrific attack was carried out in revenge for France's active role in counter-terrorism operations in Mali.

Fresh details have emerged from witnesses, who describe how the gunmen shot at 'anything that moved' and after gunning down a group of trapped foreigners, one of the fighters went to the kitchen and grilled some meat for his supper before returning to hunt for guests.

Scroll down for video:

Malian security officials show a jihadist flag they said belonged to attackers in front of the Radisson hotel

A seriously injured survivor is carried out from the luxury hotel in the Mali capital, Bamako - one of the first to be rescued

Armed jihadists went on a deadly shooting rampage inside the Radisson Blu hotel (pictured) in the centre of Bamako, Mali

Security guard Kasim Haidara revealed that the jihadis were searching for French nationals and asked one colleague for the location of the Air France crew, according to The Telegraph.

He claims his colleague sent the gunmen off in the wrong direction, providing the Air France crew vital time to escape the hotel alive.

However for his act of heroism, Mr Haidara's colleague was gunned down by the jihadis for the false information as they stormed through the building shooting at 'anything that moved.'

Dramatic footage shows how terrified hostages ran for their lives as troops rescued them from the Mali hotel siege.

Guest can be seen sprinting away from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako accompanied by heavily armed guards.

Malian troops are filmed running back into the building and emerging with more hostages while armed police use a fire escape to access the upper floors of the building.

Rescue oepration: A Malian security officer helps a hostage after he was freed from the Radisson Blu hotel

Footage shows guests sprinting away from the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako accompanied by heavily armed guards

Separate video shows scenes of disarray inside the Mali hotel where 19 people including a US aid worker were murdered by Jihadi terrorists.

Bullet holes can be seen in the walls while the footage also shows half-eaten meals abandoned by terrified guests as they ran for cover.

The videos come as Malian security forces continue to hunt for 'more than three' suspects after the assault last Friday morning.

The murdered guests included US aid worker Anita Datar, 41.

Ms Datar, 41, had been working in Bamako - Mali's capital - as a U.S. envoy for international development firm Palladium when Islamist militants stormed her hotel on Friday morning.

Anita Datar, 41 (pictured in a family photo), was working as an envoy in Bamako, Mali, for a U.S. aid company when she was killed in the horrific attack

Separate video shows scenes of disarray inside the Mali hotel where 19 people including a US aid worker were murdered by Jihadi terrorists. This still image shows the aftermath of a fire inside the luxury hotel

A look inside the hotel rooms shows the desperate measures taken by those who were trapped for several hours. This picture shows beds turned upside down as people used mattresses to barricade themselves in

Scene of destruction: Bullet holes can be seen in the walls while the footage also shows blown out windows (pictured and half-eaten meals abandoned by terrified guests as they ran for cover

Rescue: Armed police can be seen with dogs climbing the stairs of a fire escape as they hunt for hostages

Usually based in Washington, DC, the New Jersey native who specialised in public health is survived by her elementary school-aged son, Rohan.

The Islamic extremist group that said it was behind last Friday's assault on a luxury hotel in Mali's capital has issued a new statement identifying the two gunmen.

Mauritanian news site Al-Akhbar, which often receives messages from Malian extremists, said the statement from the Al-Mourabitoun (The Sentinels) group names the gunmen as Abdel Hakim Al-Ansari and Moadh Al-Ansari.

The statement said they were the only two who carried out the attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, which claimed 19 lives.

Initial reports from witnesses and officials suggested there could have been as many as 10 gunmen, though the bodies of only two gunmen were recovered from the scene.

Al-Mourabitoun has links to al-Qaida and the group's first statement on Friday described collaboration with al-Qaida's 'Sahara Emirate'.