This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-35798502
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Ivory Coast: Deadly shooting at Grand Bassam beach resort | Ivory Coast: Deadly shooting at Grand Bassam beach resort |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Unidentified gunmen have killed at least five people at the beach resort of Grand Bassam in Ivory Coast. | |
Officials say six assailants fired on beach-goers in the town, located about 40km (25 miles) east of the country's commercial capital Abidjan. | |
The resort is popular with both locals and foreigners. One of the dead was French, France's foreign ministry says. | |
Ivory Coast was seen as a model of stability in West Africa until a civil war erupted in 2002. | Ivory Coast was seen as a model of stability in West Africa until a civil war erupted in 2002. |
The conflict pitted the mainly Muslim north against the largely Christian south. Since then, peace deals have alternated with renewed violence. | The conflict pitted the mainly Muslim north against the largely Christian south. Since then, peace deals have alternated with renewed violence. |
AFP news agency quotes a military official as saying five people were killed, but other reports put the death toll higher. | AFP news agency quotes a military official as saying five people were killed, but other reports put the death toll higher. |
Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko later said the gunmen had been "neutralised". | |
A witness of Sunday's attack told AFP that "heavily armed men wearing balaclavas" had opened fire near the L'Etoile du Sud hotel, which was full of expats. | |
Another eyewitness, Souleymane Kamagate, says he saw people running from the beach and fleeing in all directions. | Another eyewitness, Souleymane Kamagate, says he saw people running from the beach and fleeing in all directions. |
BBC regional reporter Maud Jullien says Ivory Coast has been identified as one of several countries in West Africa at risk of being targeted by Islamist militants. | BBC regional reporter Maud Jullien says Ivory Coast has been identified as one of several countries in West Africa at risk of being targeted by Islamist militants. |
Luxury hotels were targeted by such groups in Mali in November and Burkina Faso in January. | Luxury hotels were targeted by such groups in Mali in November and Burkina Faso in January. |
Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what's happened? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? Have you been affected by what's happened? If it is safe to do so, you can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
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: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |