Gunmen Storm Burkina Faso Hotel, Take Hostages
- VOA News
- Jan 15, 2016
- 1 min read
Army forces drive near the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, after gunmen stormed the hotel and took several hostages Jan. 15, 2016.
Security forces in Burkina Faso battled suspected Islamist militants who were holding hostages late Friday at an upscale hotel popular with foreigners.
A senior security official said gunmen had stormed the Splendid Hotel in the capital, Ouagadougou.
"It is continuing at this time. We are trying to know how many attackers they are to better coordinate our actions. Hostages have been taken. The operation could take several hours," the officer said, asking not to be named.
The local al-Qaida affiliate known as AQIM claimed responsibility as the attack was ongoing, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
The U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou tweeted: "We are closely following the situation downtown."
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.
Burkina Faso has endured bouts of political turmoil since October 2014 when President Blaise Compaore was overthrown in a popular uprising. Last September, members of a presidential guard launched a coup that lasted about a week. The transitional government returned to power until Burkina Faso's November election ushered in new leaders.
However, Islamist militants have carried out attacks at similar hotels in neighboring Mali, including one on the Radisson Blu hotel in November that left 20 people dead.
VOA's Africa service contributed to this report.
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