At least 28 people were killed on Friday in multiple attacks on the French embassy, the French cultural centre and Burkina Faso’s army headquarters in Capital Ouagadougou, AFP reported, adding that it is unclear if the deceased included assailants.
However, Information Minister Remy Danjuinou told AP that eight militants and seven soldiers were killed in gunfights.
In a statement, the French embassy confirmed that there had been an attack at the embassy and French institute. “Stay hidden where you are,” it said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that the government had set up a crisis centre in Paris to monitor the situation.
It was not clear how many militants had staged the assaults in both locations, Danjuinou said, adding that others may be on the run. The minister said gunfire and explosions had now stopped.
Earlier on Friday, witnesses said they saw five armed men getting out of a car and opening fire as they headed towards the embassy, AFP reported. An explosion was later heard near the headquarters of the Burkinabe armed forces and the French cultural centre.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.
There appears to be an attack to a military HQ and some military camps in #Ouagadougou #BurkinaFaso at the moment. Shots are also being heard in the city. Image shows smoke coming from HQ. #Africa pic.twitter.com/HmenIqbwF2
— kambale (@kambale) March 2, 2018
#Urgent, une attaque en cours au Burkina Faso vise l'ambassade de France, l'institut Français et l'Etat major de l'armée. Restez à couvert, en attendant que des solutions appropriées soient trouvés. https://t.co/sp0tJU3lWo pic.twitter.com/8efm2xAavx
— Huguette Tiegna (@HuguetteLREM46) March 2, 2018
In August 2017, at least 18 people were killed and several injured after gunmen attacked a Turkish restaurant in Ouagadougou.
The former colonial power in the Sahel region, France, has deployed over 4,000 troops to support a five-country joint force gathering of Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Mauritania and Chad, AFP reported. (Scroll)
