Al-Qaeda attack on Burkina hotel kills 20, curfew declared

Gunmen have attacked a hotel used by Westerners in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, taking hostages and reportedly killing at least 20 people, reports BBC.

 

Several masked men stormed the Splendid Hotel taking hostages after car bombs went off outside, eyewitnesses said.

 

French ambassador Gilles Thibault tweeted that an operation to free the hostages was under way. Witnesses said part of the hotel was on fire.

 

Hospital chief Robert Sangare said at least 20 people died and 15 were hurt.

 

One group that monitors jihadist networks said al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed it was behind the attack.

 

Witnesses said the gunmen had initially entered the Cappuccino cafe near the hotel-- used by UN staff and Westerners. One employee at the cafe told Agence France Presse (AFP) that "several people" had been killed there.

 

Eyewitnesses reported hearing exchanges of gunfire between the men and security forces, as well as sporadic gunfire from inside the four-star hotel, which is close to the country's international airport.

 

The US military, that has some 75 staff in Burkina Faso, said it was ready to help French troops at the hotel.

 

France's ambassador to Burkina Faso, Gilles Thibault, says a curfew is in place until 06:00 local time.