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Sixty hostages freed, 20 people killed in Al-Qaida attack on Burkina Faso hotel Burkina Faso security frees 120 hostages in al-Qaida hotel attack
(about 2 hours later)
At least 20 people have been killed after Islamic militants attacked a hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital. Security forces freed at least 60 hostages when they stormed the building, with commandos continuing to fight a floor-by-floor battle with the gunmen several hours after the initial attack. Burkina Faso security forces have freed more than 120 hostages from a hotel seized by al-Qaida-linked fighters in the capital of Ouagadougou, but a second assault has begun at another hotel nearby, according to reports.
The country’s communication minister, Remis Dandjinou, told AFP that 33 of the freed hostages were wounded during Friday night’s attack. Another 15 wounded people had arrived at Ouagadougou’s university hospital centre. “Three jihadists were killed. They were an Arab and two black Africans,” Simon Compaore, the country’s security minister, said of the raid which concluded early on Saturday morning. Up to 20 people had been killed and 33 people wounded in the attack, with forces still determining the number of casualties.
Members of Burkina Faso’s fire brigade were reported to have found up to 10 bodies on the terrace of a restaurant near Splendid hotel, according to the country’s interior minister, Simon Campaore. Islamic extremists invaded the Splendid hotel and the Cappuccino cafe on Friday night. The militants took control of the five-storey hotel, which is popular with UN staff and foreigners, burning cars outside and firing in the air to drive back crowds.
He said security forces were still combing the hotel for remaining hostages but it was not clear how many people were still in the 147-room hotel or whether the gunmen had been captured or killed. Security forces freed at least 60 hostages when they first stormed the building, with commandos continuing to fight a floor-by-floor battle with the gunmen several hours after the initial attack.
“We don’t yet have a total tally of the dead. The Burkinabe forces are still combing the hotel,” Campaore AFP. It was not immediately known how many people remained inside the Splendid Hotel but security officials said 126 people had been freed.
Local forces were being supported by French special forces. Dozens of French forces arrived overnight from neighbouring Mali to aid in the rescue. One member of the US military was embedded with the French forces at the scene, and the US was working to provide France with surveillance and reconnaissance help, according to a US senior defence official.
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the attack. Citing conversations with the attackers, the group claimed that 30 “crusaders” had been killed in “revenge for the Prophet”, according to the US monitoring group SITE. The source told Associated Press that there were about 75 US troops in Burkina Faso: 15 assigned to the embassy and about 60 assisting the French military.
It follows a deadly raid on a hotel in neighbouring Mali last November, in which 20 people died, including 14 foreigners, as well as attacks by militants in other countries in west Africa. An al-Qaida affiliate known as AQIM, or al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, claimed responsibility online during the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. In a message posted in Arabic on the militants’ “Muslim Africa” Telegram account, it said fighters “broke into a restaurant of one of the biggest hotels in the capital of Burkina Faso, and are now entrenched and the clashes are continuing with the enemies of the religion”.
The militants took control of the five-storey Splendid hotel in Ouagadougou’s business district, burning cars outside and firing in the air to drive back crowds before security forces arrived, prompting an intense exchange of gunfire. Fighters who spoke by phone later “asserted the fall of many dead crusaders”, AQIM said, according to SITE.
Related: The struggle for Mali | Jack Watling and Paul Raymond The attack follows a raid on a hotel in neighbouring Mali last November, in which 20 people died, including 14 foreigners, as well as attacks by militants in other countries in west Africa.
One witness told Associated Press that he saw four men attack the hotel and neighbouring Cappuccino Cafe, which are popular with United Nations staff and foreigners, at about 7.30pm local time. Another witness said that when security forces arrived, they turned around rather than confront the attackers. One witness told Associated Press he saw four men attack the hotel and neighbouring cafe at about 7.30pm. Another witness said that when security forces arrived, they turned around rather than confronting the attackers.
“We had just opened and there were a few customers we started to serve when we heard gunshots ... There were three men shooting in the air,” said Vital Nounayon, a waiter at a restaurant across the street from the hotel. Vital Nounayon, a waiter at a restaurant across the street from the hotel, said: “We had just opened and there were a few customers we started to serve when we heard gunshots ... There were three men shooting in the air.
“Lots of people left their cars and motorcycles and ran. The attackers set fire to the vehicles. They also fired on the Cappuccino cafe across from the hotel before setting it on fire,” he said, adding that the attackers wore turbans.“Lots of people left their cars and motorcycles and ran. The attackers set fire to the vehicles. They also fired on the Cappuccino cafe across from the hotel before setting it on fire,” he said, adding that the attackers wore turbans.
Medical personnel moved the wounded away from the front of the hotel and one civilian was shot dead as the assault began around midnight, a Reuters witness said. Medical personnel moved the wounded away from the front of the hotel, a Reuters witness said.
Robert Sangare, director of Ouagadougou’s university hospital centre, said: “We have received around 15 wounded people. There are people with bullet wounds and people who are injured because of falls.” He said that the injured patients had told him they had seen around 20 bodies in the hotel. Robert Sangare, the director of Ouagadougou’s university hospital centre, said: “We have received around 15 wounded people. There are people with bullet wounds and people who are injured because of falls.”
The French embassy said on its website that a “terrorist attack” was underway and urged people to avoid the area. France’s ambassador to the country said a curfew had been put in place in Ouagadougou from 2300 GMT to 0600. Gilles Thibault said on his Twitter account that 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 west African country, according to foreign ministry data. He said the patients had told him they had seen around 20 bodies in the hotel.
The French embassy said on its website that a “terrorist attack” was under way and urged people to avoid the area.
France’s ambassador to the country said a curfew had been put in place in Ouagadougou from 11pm to 6am. Gilles Thibault said on his Twitter account that the embassy had set up a crisis unit for its citizens. More than 3,500 French nationals live in the former colony, according to foreign ministry data.
An Air France flight from Paris to Ouagadougou was diverted to neighbouring Niger.An Air France flight from Paris to Ouagadougou was diverted to neighbouring Niger.
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.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.
It is understood to be the first time militants have targeted Ouagadougou.It is understood to be the first time militants have targeted Ouagadougou.
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, claimed responsibility for killing 20 people and taking hostages in the capital of neighbouring Mali in November.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, 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.”
An official at the Pentagon in Washington said one US military member was embedded with French forces on the scene of the attack.
The source told Associated press that there were about 75 US troops in Burkina Faso: 15 assigned to the embassy and about 60 assisting the French military. The US was providing France with surveillance and reconnaissance help.
Burkina Faso, a largely Muslim country, has been in turmoil since its longtime president was ousted in a popular uprising in late 2014. Last September members of a presidential guard launched a coup that lasted only about a week. The transitional government returned to power until Burkina Faso’s November election ushered in new leaders.Burkina Faso, a largely Muslim country, has been in turmoil since its longtime president was ousted in a popular uprising in late 2014. Last September members of a presidential guard launched a coup that lasted only about a week. The transitional government returned to power until Burkina Faso’s November election ushered in new leaders.