Share

Burkina Faso detains, questions several people after attack

Speaking during a question and answer session in parliament, Valls said six individuals opened fire on unarmed patrons at Le Cappuccino cafe before taking refuge at the nearby Splendid Hotel where they held several hostages.

Advertisement

More than 126 people were held hostage in the hotel before Burkina Faso and French security forces launched a counter-attack leading to the deaths of three of the gunmen.

On Monday, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) named the three militants who it says carried out the attack.

It published photos of the three young gunmen dressed in military fatigues and wielding weapons, identifying them as Battar al-Ansari, Abu Muhammad al-Buqali al-Ansari and Ahmed al-Fulani al-Ansari.

At least three attackers died in the assaults, officials say. “He will be sorely missed”, the statement said.

Minister of Security Simon Compaore would not give details, citing an ongoing investigation.

Amnesty has condemned “the vicious attack on civilians in Ouagadougou”.

“We are working with the local authorities in Burkina Faso to determine and confirm what the families want”.

Advertisement

Tributes poured in Tuesday for well-known Franco-Moroccan photographer Leila Alaoui, who was severely wounded in the attack and late Monday became the 30th and latest victim of the bloody attack. It is based in the Sahara Desert between Mali, Niger and Algeria.

Mali and Burkina Faso join forces against attackers