Article

2018-03-02 Africa Subsaharan

Attack underway in Burkina Faso's capital, police say

[10News] An armed attack currently underway in Burkina Faso's capital of Ouagadougou is centered on the French embassy, according to a post on the embassy's Facebook page.
Formerly known as Upper Volta. NOT a garden spot
"The attack is ongoing at the French embassy and the French Institute," the post said, adding that people should remain "confined" to where they are. The French Institute is a cultural organization.

France's ambassador to Burkina Faso, Xavier Lapdecab, urged people via Twitter to act with "absolute precaution" as the attack is ongoing. Burkina Faso's national police have warned people to move away from areas around the "vicinity of the Prime Ministry -- and the United Nations roundabout."

"The specialized units of the defense and security forces are in action," the force said on its official Facebook page.

The US Embassy in Burkina Faso also warned US citizens to seek shelter amid reports of gunfire.

A tweet from the US Embassy read: "@Usembassyouaga has received reports of gunfire in downtown Ouagadougou. Avoid the area of downtown Ouagadougou. Seek secure shelter. Monitor local media for updates. Check back here for more updates from the embassy."

An attack by gunmen last year on a restaurant in Ouagadougou left at least 18 people dead, including two attackers.

That assault echoed a similar one in 2016 on a cafe in the same district of the city that left 29 dead. Responsibility for that attack was claimed by the jihadist group al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

Later that year jihadist attackers launched an assault on the Grand-Bassam beach resort in Ivory Coast, killing 16.

Update at 3:35p.m. ET: It’s over and the good guys won, averting what was no doubt intended to be a jihadi massacre.

Posted by Frank G 2018-03-02 07:13|| || Front Page|| [11138 views ] Top
File under: al-Qaeda in North Africa

#1 Four Islamic extremist gunmen and seven soldiers are killed as they carry out an attack on French embassy while shouting 'Allahu Akbar' in Burkina Faso, leaving scores wounded

Posted by Skidmark 2018-03-02 12:42|| 2018-03-02 12:42|| Front Page Top

#2 From Skidmark’s article (a Daily Mail article, so there are photos):

The violence will trigger fears of a renewed round of Islamist violence in the West African nation that has been rocked by incursions made by jihadist groups based in neighboring Mali.

This is as close to confirming Frank G’s article’s suggestion of Al Qaeda in North Africa as can be done before tracking the contacts in their electronic devices

Posted by trailing wife 2018-03-02 15:24|| 2018-03-02 15:24|| Front Page Top

#3 I expect the French embassy there is fortified just like US embassies in Muslim countries.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2018-03-02 17:43|| 2018-03-02 17:43|| Front Page Top

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