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Burkina Faso terror attack kills 20, government says Burkina Faso gun attack kills 18 people at cafe
(about 4 hours later)
Twenty people have been killed and a number wounded in a terror attack in the centre of the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, the government says. Gunmen have shot dead 18 people and injured others at a cafe in the centre of the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, the government says.
Gunmen opened fire on customers seated outside a restaurant, witnesses said. Foreign nationals are among the dead, but details are still emerging. A French citizen and a Turk were among those killed in the attack on Sunday evening on the Aziz Istanbul cafe, which is popular with expatriates.
The attack is now over, authorities say, with the two assailants also killed by security forces. The gunmen, thought to be jihadists, fired on customers on the terrace before making their way inside.
A jihadist attack on a nearby cafe killed 30 people in January last year. Two attackers were killed in a siege which lasted into the morning.
President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré condemned the "cowardly terror attack", saying the people of Burkina Faso would not give in to terrorism.
A jihadist attack on a nearby cafe in January of last year killed 30 people.
There are fears that the latest attack is the work of one of the affiliates of al-Qaeda that are active in the Sahel region, the BBC's Alex Duval Smith reports.There are fears that the latest attack is the work of one of the affiliates of al-Qaeda that are active in the Sahel region, the BBC's Alex Duval Smith reports.
Minister of Communication Remis Dandjinou confirmed on Monday that the attack was over, with security forces carrying out checks on neighbouring buildings. The shooting began shortly after 21:00 (21:00 GMT) at the cafe on Ouagadougou's busy Kwame Nkrumah Avenue.
The shooting began shortly after 21:00 (21:00 GMT) on Sunday on Ouagadougou's busy Kwame Nkrumah Avenue. Security forces launched a counter-assault at 22:15 and the shooting ended at about 05:00 on Monday.
Security forces launched a counter assault at 22:15 and the shooting ended at about 05:00 on Monday. Police captain Guy Ye told the Associated Press news agency the attackers had arrived on motorcycles and had begun shooting randomly.
A Turkish restaurant, the Aziz Istanbul, popular with foreigners, appears to have been at the centre of the attack.
One eyewitness told the BBC: "I saw there were multiple trucks or jeeps driving through my street, with... local army/police officers with AK47s, deploying in front of my house.One eyewitness told the BBC: "I saw there were multiple trucks or jeeps driving through my street, with... local army/police officers with AK47s, deploying in front of my house.
"I heard a lot of shootings and then I was scared as hell and I went inside. I've been hearing quite a bit of shooting.""I heard a lot of shootings and then I was scared as hell and I went inside. I've been hearing quite a bit of shooting."
Police captain Guy Ye told Associated Press that the attackers had arrived on motorcycles and had begun shooting randomly.
Analysis: Alex Duval Smith, BBC News, DakarAnalysis: Alex Duval Smith, BBC News, Dakar
A terrorist attack in the Sahel had been expected.A terrorist attack in the Sahel had been expected.
Residents of Burkina Faso's capital had noticed more police road blocks in the past few days. In neighbouring central Mali, the United Nations mission, Minusma, had requested that staff and contractors avoid using rural roads. Residents of Burkina Faso's capital had noticed more police road blocks in the past few days. In neighbouring central Mali, the UN mission, Minusma, had requested that staff and contractors avoid using rural roads.
Burkina Faso is part of the Sahel region, which includes Mali where Islamist groups have been active since 2012.Burkina Faso is part of the Sahel region, which includes Mali where Islamist groups have been active since 2012.
For nearly two years now northern Mali's terrorist challenge has grown into a regional problem, with attacks by al-Qaeda affiliates in Burkina Faso, Niger and Ivory Coast.For nearly two years now northern Mali's terrorist challenge has grown into a regional problem, with attacks by al-Qaeda affiliates in Burkina Faso, Niger and Ivory Coast.
Even though the Ouagadougou attack was not prevented, the fact that Mali and Burkina Faso were on alert suggests Minusma's intelligence-gathering operation is bearing fruit.Even though the Ouagadougou attack was not prevented, the fact that Mali and Burkina Faso were on alert suggests Minusma's intelligence-gathering operation is bearing fruit.
France is spearheading fundraising for a regional anti-terror force, the G5 Sahel, which will draw from the armies of Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.France is spearheading fundraising for a regional anti-terror force, the G5 Sahel, which will draw from the armies of Mauritania, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.
The force will not be operational until later this year.The force will not be operational until later this year.
The Turkish and French governments confirmed that they had lost one national each in the assault.The Turkish and French governments confirmed that they had lost one national each in the assault.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack and said he would hold talks with his Burkinabe counterpart, Roch Marc Kabore, to "evaluate the situation".French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack and said he would hold talks with his Burkinabe counterpart, Roch Marc Kabore, to "evaluate the situation".
The attack is similar to one in January 2016, when gunmen targeted the Splendid Hotel and the Cappuccino restaurant, only 200m further along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue from the scene of the latest attack.The attack is similar to one in January 2016, when gunmen targeted the Splendid Hotel and the Cappuccino restaurant, only 200m further along Kwame Nkrumah Avenue from the scene of the latest attack.
More than 170 people were taken hostage and 30 were killed. The al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group said it had carried out that attack.More than 170 people were taken hostage and 30 were killed. The al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) group said it had carried out that attack.
Under fire: Recent attacks in Burkina FasoUnder fire: Recent attacks in Burkina Faso