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| Police take cover as armoured car battles gunmen Photo: Reuters |
Suspected Islamist extremists have killed at least 17 people
after opening fire on a restaurant popular with foreigners in the Burkina Faso
capital of Ouagadougou.
after opening fire on a restaurant popular with foreigners in the Burkina Faso
capital of Ouagadougou.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the
violence on Sunday, which continued into Monday morning with security forces
still exchanging heavy fire with attackers who were believed to be holding
hostages.
violence on Sunday, which continued into Monday morning with security forces
still exchanging heavy fire with attackers who were believed to be holding
hostages.
Remi Dandjinou, the country’s communications minister, told
journalists it was a “terror attack” and that at least 17 people were dead and
eight others wounded, according to a provisional toll.
journalists it was a “terror attack” and that at least 17 people were dead and
eight others wounded, according to a provisional toll.
Security forces killed at least two attackers, he said, but
people remained inside the building which housed the upmarket Turkish
restaurant, Aziz Istanbul. One soldier said there were hostages on the first
and second floor of the two-storey building, Guardian stated.
people remained inside the building which housed the upmarket Turkish
restaurant, Aziz Istanbul. One soldier said there were hostages on the first
and second floor of the two-storey building, Guardian stated.
The victims came from several different nationalities,
Dandjinou said, but at least one of the dead was a French national.
Dandjinou said, but at least one of the dead was a French national.
A paramedic told Agence France-Presse that one of the
victims was Turkish. “We evacuated 11 people but one of them, a Turk, died on
arriving at hospital,” the paramedic said, declining to be named.
victims was Turkish. “We evacuated 11 people but one of them, a Turk, died on
arriving at hospital,” the paramedic said, declining to be named.
Police captain Guy Ye said three or four assailants had
arrived at the restaurant on motorcycles and then began shooting randomly at
diners.
arrived at the restaurant on motorcycles and then began shooting randomly at
diners.
Police evacuated civilians from the area before launching
the counter-assault.
the counter-assault.
The French embassy in Ouagadougou said it was in contact
with the local authorities and advised French people to avoid the area around
the restaurant, Reuters reported.
with the local authorities and advised French people to avoid the area around
the restaurant, Reuters reported.