Mali: 6 UN peacekeepers killed in attack claimed by al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
Militants killed at least six United Nations soldiers yesterday in northern Mali, in one the deadliest-ever attacks on the world’s most dangerous peacekeeping mission, claimed by al-Qaeda’s north African arm.
MINUSMA, the UN’s force in the volatile west African nation, said its patrol was ambushed around 9:00 am, 45 kilometres (28 miles) south-west of the city of Timbuktu on the road to Goundam.
“Preliminary reports indicate that six peacekeepers were killed and five others wounded. The evacuation of the wounded is in progress,” it said in a statement.
The force said two of its vehicles had been destroyed, and that reinforcements had been sent to the area, backed from the air by helicopters.