Photos--American Mother and Aid Worker Anita Datar Among 27 Dead in Mali Hotel Attack

American mother and aid worker Anita Datar has died during Friday's hotel siege in Mali,Souces can confirm.
State Department spokesperson John Kirby said Friday: "We can confirm that U.S. citizen Anita Ashok Datar was killed in Mali on November 20. We offer our sincere condolences to her family and friends. Out of respect for privacy for Ms. Datar's family, we have no further comment at this time."
Datar's family also released a statement: "We are devastated that Anita is gone—it’s unbelievable to us that she has been killed in this senseless act of violence and terrorism. Anita was one of the kindest and most generous people we know."

 

As of now, at least 27 people have been confirmed dead as a result of heavily armed attackers who sieged the Radisson Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali, taking more than 100 people hostage.

The family statement continued: "[Anita] loved her family and her work tremendously. Everything she did in her life she did to help others – as a mother, public health expert, daughter, sister and friend. And while we are angry and saddened that she has been killed, we know that she would want to promote education and healthcare to prevent violence and poverty at home and abroad, not intolerance."

Datar is survived by her elementary school-aged son Rohan

In earlier reports, a source told Reuters that the gunmen carried assault rifles and grenades and shouted "Allahu Akbar" as they continued their attack.

According to Al-Jazeera, a splinter group of Al-Qaeda took responsibility for the attack. Secretary of State John Kerry took a moment earlier to publicly condemn the attack and terrorism.

"All those responsible for these recurring terrorist attacks must be held accountable," he said. "These terrorist attacks will only deepen our shared resolve to fight terrorism."