02:02Burkina Faso: Security forces on high alert following deadly hotel attack
Special Forces were on high alert in Ouagadougou on Saturday following a deadly siege on a luxury hotel in the capital which left at least 23 people of 18 different nationalities dead. Al-Qaeda militants in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Shots continued to ring out as Special Forces were deployed near the luxury hotel to dispel the remaining militants and bring the situation under control. The luxury Splendid Hotel that was targeted was popular among foreign nationals. The militants are thought to have also attacked a cafe and another hotel, close to the Splendid.
The wounded were taken away to nearby hospitals as reports suggest that 33 hostages had been injured in the attack. Allegedly 150 hostages were liberated after a joint operation conducted by the security forces of Burkina Faso and France was launched.
The attack comes after a similar siege on a luxury hotel was conducted by Militants from Al-Mourabitoun, a group affiliated with al-Qaida, in the Malian capital of Bamoko in November. 18 people were killed and and up to 170 were taken hostage in the attack.
02:02Special Forces were on high alert in Ouagadougou on Saturday following a deadly siege on a luxury hotel in the capital which left at least 23 people of 18 different nationalities dead. Al-Qaeda militants in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Shots continued to ring out as Special Forces were deployed near the luxury hotel to dispel the remaining militants and bring the situation under control. The luxury Splendid Hotel that was targeted was popular among foreign nationals. The militants are thought to have also attacked a cafe and another hotel, close to the Splendid.
The wounded were taken away to nearby hospitals as reports suggest that 33 hostages had been injured in the attack. Allegedly 150 hostages were liberated after a joint operation conducted by the security forces of Burkina Faso and France was launched.
The attack comes after a similar siege on a luxury hotel was conducted by Militants from Al-Mourabitoun, a group affiliated with al-Qaida, in the Malian capital of Bamoko in November. 18 people were killed and and up to 170 were taken hostage in the attack.