NJ Native Confirmed Dead In Mali Hotel Attack

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --  Police in Mali, joined by the French and one off-duty American Special Forces Op, freed more than 100 hostages from the Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital of Mali.

Gunmen armed with grenades moved in just before 7 a.m. driving a Toyota SUV with diplomatic plates and started shooting in an attack that left at least 20 dead including American Anita Datar.

A 41-year-old from the Baltimore area who grew up in New Jersey. She worked for a nonprofit group helping undeserved communities.

"We are devastated by the loss of our daughter," Anita Datar's father told CBS News.

One witness says the men were shouting Allahu Akbar which means "God is great."
They spoke French and English.
At one point at least 170 people, including 14 americans, were held hostage.

In Southwest Philadelphia, the owner of Nile African Restaurant has been keeping a close eye on his home.

He says the former French colony has been battling Islamic extremists for years.

The French Defense Minister believes North African al qaeda operative Mokhtar Belmokhtar is responsible for the attack.

He's responsible for kidnapping dozens of westerners and an attack in Algeria that killed 39, including 3 Americans.

U.S. war planes tried to kill him in Libya, but the Pentagon couldn't confirm his death.