“She was apparently killed by the Islamist terrorist organization JNIM", Swiss authorities said in a statement. Beatrice Stöckli had already been abducted and released in 2012.

Eighty journalists were killed this year. “The hatred of journalists is voiced, and sometimes very openly proclaimed, by unscrupulous politicians” and “amplified by social networks”, a RSF report says.

Another hostage is seriously wounded. "Two soldiers of the Islamic State had carried out the attack”, the Daesh-linked Amaq news agency confirmed.

Police confirms 17 people were killed. The terrorists were still inside the building after security forces stormed the building. The remaining hostages have been freed. Gunmen took the hotel shooting, and shouting "Allah is great!" in Arabic.