French Counter-Terrorist Special Forces (GIGN) en route to Mali to help solve the hostage situation.

France’s national gendarme service says about 50 elite police troops are en route from Paris to Bamako

French President Francois Hollande says France is ready to help Mali with all means necessary in the wake of the hotel attack in the capital, Bamako.

Hollande asks all French citizens in Mali to make contact with the French Embassy there “in order that everything is made to offer them protection.”

In Belgium, Foreign Minister Didier Reynders said there were four Belgians registered at the attacked hotel but it’s unclear if they were taken hostage by the gunmen or not.

Reynders also said there are “15 hostages who have been freed after an intervention” but didn’t provide more details.