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Burkina Faso attack: 'At least 20 dead' in Ouagadougou hotel | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Gunmen have attacked a hotel used by westerners in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, taking hostages and reportedly killing at least 20 people. | |
Eyewitnesses said two car bombs went off outside the Splendid hotel at around 19:30 local time (same as GMT). | Eyewitnesses said two car bombs went off outside the Splendid hotel at around 19:30 local time (same as GMT). |
Three to four masked men then stormed the Splendid Hotel, which is used by UN staff and westerners, witnesses said. | Three to four masked men then stormed the Splendid Hotel, which is used by UN staff and westerners, witnesses said. |
Robert Sangare, a hospital director in the city, said at least 20 people had died and 15 more wounded. | |
Foreign Minister Alpha Barry said security forces would launch a raid to free hostages. He said he was "not ruling out possible support of foreign forces including French special forces". | |
One group that monitors jihadist networks said al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed it was behind the attack. | One group that monitors jihadist networks said al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed it was behind the attack. |
Witnesses said the gunmen had initially entered the Cappuccino cafe near the hotel. One employee at the cafe told Agence France Presse that "several people" had been killed there. | |
Eyewitnesses reported hearing exchanges of gunfire between the men and security forces, as well as sporadic gunfire from inside the four-star hotel close to the country's international airport. | Eyewitnesses reported hearing exchanges of gunfire between the men and security forces, as well as sporadic gunfire from inside the four-star hotel close to the country's international airport. |
In the latest developments: | In the latest developments: |
A similar attack by Islamist militants on a hotel in neighbouring Mali in November left 20 people dead. | A similar attack by Islamist militants on a hotel in neighbouring Mali in November left 20 people dead. |
Burkina Faso had recently held its first presidential election since a coup earlier last year. | Burkina Faso had recently held its first presidential election since a coup earlier last year. |
That coup toppled long-time leader Blaise Compaore, who had governed for 27 years. | That coup toppled long-time leader Blaise Compaore, who had governed for 27 years. |
"We are still in a context of political fragility, so I think the timing of this attack is meaningful," Cynthia Ohayon, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, told the BBC from Ouagadougou. | "We are still in a context of political fragility, so I think the timing of this attack is meaningful," Cynthia Ohayon, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, told the BBC from Ouagadougou. |
"The country has long borders with Mali and Niger, and we know there are armed groups present on the border, so this was probably something we had coming." | "The country has long borders with Mali and Niger, and we know there are armed groups present on the border, so this was probably something we had coming." |
Are you in the area? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. | Are you in the area? Let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |