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Burkina Faso attack: 'At least 20 dead' in Ouagadougou hotel | 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. | |
Several masked men stormed the Splendid Hotel taking hostages after car bombs went off outside, eyewitnesses said. | |
French ambassador Gilles Thibault tweeted that an operation to free the hostages was under way. Witnesses said part of the hotel was on fire. | |
Hospital chief Robert Sangare said at least 20 people died and 15 were hurt. | |
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 - used by UN staff and Westerners. 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, which is 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, which is close to the country's international airport. |
In the latest developments: | In the latest developments: |
Who is the group responsible? | Who is the group responsible? |
The SITE monitoring group, which analyses jihadist networks, said al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed it was behind the attack. | The SITE monitoring group, which analyses jihadist networks, said al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed it was behind the attack. |
The monitoring group specifically stated that those responsible were the al-Murabitoun group, which is based in the Sahara desert in northern Mali and contains fighters loyal to the veteran Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar. | The monitoring group specifically stated that those responsible were the al-Murabitoun group, which is based in the Sahara desert in northern Mali and contains fighters loyal to the veteran Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar. |
Last month, the group announced it had merged with AQIM. Belmokhtar, a one-eyed commander who fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, was once a member of AQIM but left after a falling-out with its leadership. | Last month, the group announced it had merged with AQIM. Belmokhtar, a one-eyed commander who fought Soviet forces in Afghanistan in the 1980s, was once a member of AQIM but left after a falling-out with its leadership. |
Belmokhtar has been declared dead many times, the latest by a US air strike on 14 June last year in Libya - according to Libyan authorities - but his death has not been formally confirmed. | Belmokhtar has been declared dead many times, the latest by a US air strike on 14 June last year in Libya - according to Libyan authorities - but his death has not been formally confirmed. |
AQIM and al-Murabitoun said they were behind an attack on a hotel in Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali in November, that left 20 people dead. | AQIM and al-Murabitoun said they were behind an attack on a hotel in Burkina Faso's neighbour Mali in November, that left 20 people dead. |
Who are al-Murabitoun? | Who are al-Murabitoun? |
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: |