Gunmen attacked a five-star hotel in Mali’s capital Bamako on Friday and are holding 170 hostages, witnesses said.

Attackers shouting “Allahu Akbar” opened fire outside the Radisson Blu Hotel in the centre of the capital before storming it.

Automatic weapon fire could be heard from outside the 190-room hotel where security forces set up a security cordon.

Speaking to Al Jazeera by phone from Bamako, business owner Garba Konate said a group of attackers showed up about three hours earlier.

“About 10 gunmen arrived early in the morning and shot all the guards in front of the Radisson,” Konate said.

One of the guests reportedly staying at the hotel is Nigerian Aliko Dangote – the richest person in Africa.

“I started hearing gunshots coming from the hotel,” said Ibrahim, 28, who works at a cultural centre 40 metres away from the hotel.

“Soon after I saw one of the guards running out, injured… The security guard told me the shooters were so quick that he doesn’t even know how many came in,” he told Al Jazeera.