Militants attack hotel and cafe in Burkina Faso - at least 27 dead

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.

We had just opened and there were a few customers we started to serve when we heard gunshots … there were three men shooting in the air. Lots of people left their cars and motorcycles and ran.

Witness Vital Nounayon, a waiter workingacross the street from the hotel

Burkina Faso President Roch Marc Kabore said the victims came from 18 different countries. 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.

We know that the gunmen won’t get out of the hotel alive. Our country is not for jihadists or terrorists. They got it wrong.

One witness, named only as Gilbert

Africa Burkina Faso