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Dozens of hostages freed in terror attack on hotel in Burkina Faso

Source: Xinhua | January 16, 2016, Saturday | Online Edition

AT least 21 were killed and 15 others wounded after an Al-Qaida affiliate attacked the Splendid Hotel in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou, and took hostages there Friday.

Dozens of hostages have been freed after Burkina Faso security forces launched an assault to recapture the hotel and rescue hostages.

"The security forces have launched an assault against the terrorists. Dozens of hostages freed from the hotel," Burkina Info television said.

Local radio Omega reported earlier that at least 12 hostages had been freed.

SITE Intelligence group, a US-based monitor group said on its website "Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed credit for the raid at the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, reporting its execution by the recently-joined al-Murabitoon Battalion."

The Splendid Hotel, not far from the capital city's international airport, often hosts Westerners, including UN staff and journalists, CNN reported.

Three heavily armed attackers, wearing ski masks, arrived in two vehicles, said witnesses. And now it is not clear how many people were taken hostage there.

Foreigners and Burkina Faso nationals are among the hostages, said the Foreign ministry.

Gunfire and explosions were heared in the business center of the capital around 7:30 p.m. (1930 GMT). The area around the hotel has been sealed off and a curfew was imposed until 6am Saturday local time.

Earlier in the day, some 20 armed men attacked a security forces patrol in the vicinity of the northern city of Tinakof, near the Mali border, killing two people including a police officer and a civilian.

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