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Security forces battle suspected jihadis in Burkina Faso capital Al-Qaida group claims responsibility for siege in Burkina Faso capital
(35 minutes later)
Gunfire and explosions have erupted in Burkina Faso’s capital as security forces battled suspected Islamist fighters outside one of Ouagadougou’s main hotels. Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for an ongoing attack on a hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital, according to a report by SITE Intelligence Group.
Gunfire and explosions have erupted in Burkina Faso’s capital as security forces battled suspected militant fighters outside one of Ouagadougou’s main hotels.
Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the the four-storey Splendid hotel, burning cars outside and firing in the air to drive back crowds before security forces arrived, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire.Witnesses said the gunmen stormed the the four-storey Splendid hotel, burning cars outside and firing in the air to drive back crowds before security forces arrived, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire.
One witness told Associated Press that he saw four men attack the hotel and neighbouring Cappuccino Cafe at around 7.30 pm local time. Another witness said that when security forces first arrived, they turned around rather than confront the attackers. One witness told Associated Press that he saw four men attack the hotel and neighbouring Cappuccino Cafe at around 7.30pm local time. Another witness said that when security forces first arrived, they turned around rather than confront the attackers.
“But we know that the gunmen won’t get out of the hotel alive,” he said. “Our country is not for jihadists or terrorists. They got it wrong.” “But we know that the gunmen won’t get out of the hotel alive,” he said. “Our country is not for jihadis or terrorists. They got it wrong.”
The hotel is sometimes used by French troops with Operation Barkhane, a force based in Chad and set up to combat Islamist militants across Africa’s vast, arid Sahel region. A curfew has been put in place in Ouagadougou from 2300 GMT to 0600, France’s ambassador to the country said. Gilles Thibault said on his Twitter account the attack in its former colony was ongoing and that the embassy had set up a crisis unit for its citizens. More than 3,500 French nationals live in the country, according to foreign ministry data.
Describing the assault on the Splendid hotel in the capital’s business district as a “terrorist attack”, the embassy had earlier told French nationals to say at home and avoid the area.
The hotel is sometimes used by French troops with Operation Barkhane, a force based in Chad and set up to combat Islamic militants across Africa’s vast, arid Sahel region.
Asking not to be named, a senior official with the national gendarmes said: “It is continuing at this time. We are trying to know how many attackers they are to better coordinate our actions. Hostages have been taken. The operation could take several hours.”Asking not to be named, a senior official with the national gendarmes said: “It is continuing at this time. We are trying to know how many attackers they are to better coordinate our actions. Hostages have been taken. The operation could take several hours.”
It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attack, though jihadis have attacked hotels before in neighbouring Mali, including an assault on the Radisson Blu hotel in November that left 20 people dead. A senior member of AQIM had in December called for Muslims in several countries, including Burkina Faso, to wage jihad. AQIM, along with two other groups, also claimed responsibility for killing 20 people and taking hostages in the capital of neighbouring Mali in November.
The US embassy in Ouagadougou tweeted: “We are closely following the situation downtown.”The US embassy in Ouagadougou tweeted: “We are closely following the situation downtown.”
While Burkina Faso has largely been spared the violence brought by Islamic extremist groups in Mali, a Romanian national was abducted last April. Jihadis have attacked hotels before in neighbouring Mali, including an assault on the Radisson Blu hotel in November that left 20 people dead, although Burkina Faso has largely been spared such violence.