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| Burkina Faso attack: Gunmen strike in Ouagadougou | Burkina Faso attack: Gunmen strike in Ouagadougou |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Gunmen have launched an attack in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, with the French embassy and a military HQ among the apparent targets. | Gunmen have launched an attack in the capital of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, with the French embassy and a military HQ among the apparent targets. |
| Burkina Faso's government said four attackers had been killed at the embassy and at least two at the HQ. | Burkina Faso's government said four attackers had been killed at the embassy and at least two at the HQ. |
| Seven members of the security forces have been killed, officials say, with another six people wounded. Other reports put the death toll far higher. | |
| A French source said the situation at the embassy was now under control. | |
| It is unclear who is behind the attack but Burkina Faso Information Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou told state TV it had "strong overtones of terrorism". | |
| Burkina Faso police have given an initial death toll of six attackers and seven security personnel, with another six people wounded, including two civilians. | |
| However, security sources told Agence France-Presse that at least 28 people were killed in the attack on the military HQ. This has not been confirmed. | |
| Sporadic gunfire can still be heard and the Burkinabe police said one attacker had been surrounded at the city's main market. | Sporadic gunfire can still be heard and the Burkinabe police said one attacker had been surrounded at the city's main market. |
| Pictures from the scene showed a cloud of black smoke rising into the sky. Witnesses reported seeing armed men getting out of a car and opening fire before heading towards the embassy. | Pictures from the scene showed a cloud of black smoke rising into the sky. Witnesses reported seeing armed men getting out of a car and opening fire before heading towards the embassy. |
| Ouagadougou Mayor Armand Béouindé told France's Le Monde newspaper that the attackers shot at the town hall and his office windows were shattered. "Apparently, it is a jihadist attack," he said, but gave no further details. | Ouagadougou Mayor Armand Béouindé told France's Le Monde newspaper that the attackers shot at the town hall and his office windows were shattered. "Apparently, it is a jihadist attack," he said, but gave no further details. |
| One witness, Omar Zombre, told local TV: "We saw four people who were trying to enter the embassy on the east side. They were in civilian attire, with a kind of vest and backpacks with Kalashnikovs which were clearly visible. | One witness, Omar Zombre, told local TV: "We saw four people who were trying to enter the embassy on the east side. They were in civilian attire, with a kind of vest and backpacks with Kalashnikovs which were clearly visible. |
| "So they tried, but they didn't manage it and so they tried to enter from the west side. We saw that they had set a car on fire. When we went up [to the roof] we heard gunshots from an automatic weapon, [it was] very intense." | "So they tried, but they didn't manage it and so they tried to enter from the west side. We saw that they had set a car on fire. When we went up [to the roof] we heard gunshots from an automatic weapon, [it was] very intense." |
| French President Emmanuel Macron was being kept up-to-date, said the Elysée Palace in Paris. He has urged French nationals in the country to follow the embassy's advice and stay away from troubled areas. | French President Emmanuel Macron was being kept up-to-date, said the Elysée Palace in Paris. He has urged French nationals in the country to follow the embassy's advice and stay away from troubled areas. |
| French forces based in the country have also been deployed. | French forces based in the country have also been deployed. |
| French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told LCI TV there were "no French casualties, as far as we're aware". | French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian told LCI TV there were "no French casualties, as far as we're aware". |
| The city's military HQ and the embassy - which is also near the prime minister's office - are about one kilometre apart. Local TV said the PM was safe. | The city's military HQ and the embassy - which is also near the prime minister's office - are about one kilometre apart. Local TV said the PM was safe. |
| The US embassy in the city has advised people to seek shelter. | The US embassy in the city has advised people to seek shelter. |
| Ouagadougou has suffered two major attacks by Islamist militants in the past two years. | Ouagadougou has suffered two major attacks by Islamist militants in the past two years. |
| The West African country also saw a failed coup in 2015. The trial for dozens of the alleged perpetrators began earlier this week but was suspended after defence lawyers walked out in protest against the military court. | The West African country also saw a failed coup in 2015. The trial for dozens of the alleged perpetrators began earlier this week but was suspended after defence lawyers walked out in protest against the military court. |
| Are you in the area? If it is safe for you to do so you can share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you in the area? If it is safe for you to do so you can share your experiences with us by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
| You can also contact us in the following ways: | You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |