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| Burkina Faso: at least 17 dead in restaurant attack | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| At least 17 people have been killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants at a restaurant popular with foreigners in the capital of Burkina Faso. | At least 17 people have been killed in an attack by suspected Islamist militants at a restaurant popular with foreigners in the capital of Burkina Faso. |
| There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assault on Sunday night in Ouagadougou. On Monday security forces exchanged heavy fire with attackers who were believed to be holding hostages. | There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the assault on Sunday night in Ouagadougou. On Monday security forces exchanged heavy fire with attackers who were believed to be holding hostages. |
| Experts say a coalition of jihadist groups formed last month is the prime suspect. The alliance includes al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM), one of the most tenacious and effective offshoots of the extremist organisation. | Experts say a coalition of jihadist groups formed last month is the prime suspect. The alliance includes al-Qaida in the Maghreb (AQIM), one of the most tenacious and effective offshoots of the extremist organisation. |
| Officials in Ouagadougou told reporters 17 people had died, including a French national, and eight more were wounded in a terrorist attack on the upmarket Turkish restaurant Aziz Istanbul. Security forces killed two of the attackers, authorities said. | Officials in Ouagadougou told reporters 17 people had died, including a French national, and eight more were wounded in a terrorist attack on the upmarket Turkish restaurant Aziz Istanbul. Security forces killed two of the attackers, authorities said. |
| Remi Dandjinou, the communications minister, said a number of people remained inside the two-storey building housing the restaurant. Military sources told Agence France-Presse some were being held as hostages. | Remi Dandjinou, the communications minister, said a number of people remained inside the two-storey building housing the restaurant. Military sources told Agence France-Presse some were being held as hostages. |
| A paramedic told the agency one of the victims was Turkish. | A paramedic told the agency one of the victims was Turkish. |
| “We evacuated 11 people but one of them, a Turk, died on arriving at hospital,” the paramedic said, declining to be named. | “We evacuated 11 people but one of them, a Turk, died on arriving at hospital,” the paramedic said, declining to be named. |
| Police captain Guy Ye said three or four assailants arrived at the restaurant on motorbikes and began shooting randomly at diners. | Police captain Guy Ye said three or four assailants arrived at the restaurant on motorbikes and began shooting randomly at diners. |
| One woman said she was in the restaurant celebrating her brother’s birthday when the shooting started. “I just ran but my brother was left inside,” she told Reuters. | One woman said she was in the restaurant celebrating her brother’s birthday when the shooting started. “I just ran but my brother was left inside,” she told Reuters. |
| Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation in west Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. It appeared to have escaped the worst of the wave of Islamist militant violence that has swept other parts of west Africa and the Sahel in recent years, including neighbouring Mali, but since 2015 has been increasingly targeted by militant groups. | Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation in west Africa, is one of the poorest countries in the world. It appeared to have escaped the worst of the wave of Islamist militant violence that has swept other parts of west Africa and the Sahel in recent years, including neighbouring Mali, but since 2015 has been increasingly targeted by militant groups. |
| In January last year 30 people died in an assault by AQIM-linked extremists on a hotel popular with UN staff and foreigners in Ouagadougou. The three attackers were of foreign origin, according to AQIM, which claimed responsibility in the aftermath along with the jihadist group al-Mourabitoun. | In January last year 30 people died in an assault by AQIM-linked extremists on a hotel popular with UN staff and foreigners in Ouagadougou. The three attackers were of foreign origin, according to AQIM, which claimed responsibility in the aftermath along with the jihadist group al-Mourabitoun. |
| The two groups have now combined with a third in a coalition. Though based in Mali, the new alliance has already struck neighbouring countries and claimed one attack in Burkina Faso last month. | The two groups have now combined with a third in a coalition. Though based in Mali, the new alliance has already struck neighbouring countries and claimed one attack in Burkina Faso last month. |
| “It is very difficult to say definitively who is responsible for this new attack but precedent would suggest the involvement of AQIM,” said Ryan Cummings, a security expert based in South Africa. | “It is very difficult to say definitively who is responsible for this new attack but precedent would suggest the involvement of AQIM,” said Ryan Cummings, a security expert based in South Africa. |
| Cummings said AQIM has the motive – Burkina Faso has been supportive of French military operations against jihadis in the region and also hosts French interests – and is one of few groups with the capacity to carry out such an assault. | Cummings said AQIM has the motive – Burkina Faso has been supportive of French military operations against jihadis in the region and also hosts French interests – and is one of few groups with the capacity to carry out such an assault. |
| A new force of 2,800 troops from local states supported by the French and focused on border security is due to begin operations later this month. | A new force of 2,800 troops from local states supported by the French and focused on border security is due to begin operations later this month. |
| The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has condemned the assault, calling it a terrorist attack. | The French president, Emmanuel Macron, has condemned the assault, calling it a terrorist attack. |
| “The president of the republic will hold talks during the day with his counterpart, President Roch Marc Kaboré, in order to evaluate the situation,” said a statement issued by Macron’s office on Monday. | “The president of the republic will hold talks during the day with his counterpart, President Roch Marc Kaboré, in order to evaluate the situation,” said a statement issued by Macron’s office on Monday. |
| The statement said France remained committed to working alongside countries in the region to fight against terrorist groups. | The statement said France remained committed to working alongside countries in the region to fight against terrorist groups. |
| One factor driving the violence in the region is the rivalry between jihadist factions. The new alliance is aimed at overcoming “political and ethnic differences and presenting a united facade”, said Cummings. | One factor driving the violence in the region is the rivalry between jihadist factions. The new alliance is aimed at overcoming “political and ethnic differences and presenting a united facade”, said Cummings. |
| Other factors include the activities of criminal networks, tensions between pastoralists and farmers, political vendettas and ethnic rivalries. | Other factors include the activities of criminal networks, tensions between pastoralists and farmers, political vendettas and ethnic rivalries. |
| There is also a homegrown terror threat in Burkina Faso, from a local preacher, Ibrahim Malam Dicko, who radicalised his followers and has claimed recent deadly attacks against troops and civilians. | There is also a homegrown terror threat in Burkina Faso, from a local preacher, Ibrahim Malam Dicko, who radicalised his followers and has claimed recent deadly attacks against troops and civilians. |
| Last month five people were killed in a series of attacks launched by Dicko’s men in the northern province of Soum. | Last month five people were killed in a series of attacks launched by Dicko’s men in the northern province of Soum. |