BAMAKO — Mali's interim president Assimi Goita survived a knife attack at Bamako Grand Mosque on Tuesday, according to a statement from Mali's presidency.

President Goita was in the mosque to offer Eid Al-Adha prayer, according to the statement.

“The attacker was immediately subdued by close security and investigations are underway,” the statement added.

Religious Affairs Minister Mamadou Kone told AFP that the attacker had "tried to kill the president with a knife" but was apprehended.

Col. Assimi Goita was sworn in as the transitional president last month.

He successfully led a coup last August, ousting elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita after weeks of mass protests over corruption and the long-running militant conflict. — Agencies