At least 27 killed after al Qaeda militants open fire at Burkina Faso luxury hotel

At least 27 people have been killed after al Qaeda militants struck at a top hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso’s capital. Security forces freed 126 hostages around 12 hours after the extremists launched the assaults on the Splendid Hotel and the Cappuccino Cafe across the road in Ouagadougou. French ambassador Gilles Thibault said 27 people had been killed at the four-star hotel and restaurant, both popular with Westerners and UN staff.

They started to shoot at everyone. We dropped to the ground and as soon as anyone raised their heads they fired at them immediately. We had to play dead.

A woman who survived the restaurant assault

Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Kabore earlier said the “partial death toll” in the “cowardly and vile” attacks was 23. The victims came from 18 different countries, Mr Kabore said. Thirty-three hostages were also wounded. Three attackers - two of them women - died at the Splendid Hotel, while a fourth was killed when security forces cleared out a second hotel nearby. Al Qaeda of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility, according to the SITE Intelligence Group. The assaults came as two Austrians, a doctor and his wife, were kidnapped in northern Burkina Faso, the security ministry said. It was not immediately clear if the kidnapping was linked to the attacks.

When they went upstairs they set the place on fire and left via the roof. The room was completely on fire and it was impossible to breathe.

Witness

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