Sunday, March 13, 2016

Ivory Coast hotel shooting: Al-Qaeda claim responsibility for attack which left at least 16 dead

Ivorian security forces evacuate people after heavily armed gunmen opened fire at a hotel in the Ivory Coast beach resort of Grand-Bassam












Al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attack that left 16 people dead at a popular beach in Ivory Coast today.
Fourteen civilians and two special forces soldiers were shot by gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs and wearing balaclavas.
Four Europeans, including a French national, and a five-year-old child were reportedly among those slaughtered on the sand bordering three hotels in the coastal city Grand-Bassam.
The North African branch of the terrorist organisation posted a statement online claiming it was behind the deadly assault on Sunday.
"In a message posted on its Telegram channels on March 13, 2016, the group reported that three `heroes' from its group were able to storm the resort," according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online communications by militant groups.
President Alassane Ouattara confirmed that at least 16 people were shot dead by six gunmen at the weekend retreat, said to be favoured by Westerners, during a visit to the site.
The Côte d'Ivoire leader said: "Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon... We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed."



A man helps a wounded child after heavily armed gunmen opened fire at a hotel in the Ivory Coast beach resort of Grand-Bassam

He added that the six attackers, who are yet to be identified, were also killed.
Some witnesses said the gunmen were shouting "Alluha Akbar", which translates to "God is greatest", during the rampage.
State minister Hamed Bakayoko said security checks are under way and a toll of people killed and injured will be announced in the coming hours.
He has urged the public to remain calm after the incident in the south-eastern beach resort, about 25 miles east of Ivory Coast's economic centre, Abidjan.
Dramatic footage showed people running away from the beach to sound of gunfire in the background.
Graphic images of dead bodies have also been shared on social media while others showed locals looking at what appeared to be body armour and grenades left in the street.
STRINGER/AFP/Getty ImagesA photo taken by a witness at the scene shows bodies on the beach after heavily armed gunmen opened fire at a hotel in the Ivory Coast beach resort of Grand-Bassam
SIA-KAMBOU/AFP/Getty ImagesIvorian security forces evacuate people after heavily armed gunmen opened fire at a hotel in the Ivory Coast beach resort of Grand-Bassam

According to one witness "the gunshots came from a boat in front of the beach".
Another Dramane Kima said: "I saw seven dead that I filmed. There were four attackers.
"I was swimming when it started and I ran away."
Witness Josiane Sekongo, 25, said shots rang out in the town, a popular weekend destination for Ivorians and foreigners.
Ms Sekongo, who lives across from one of Grand-Bassam's many beachfront hotels, said she ran outside when she heard the gunfire and saw people running away from the beach.
She said residents were hiding in their homes as security forces responded.
The beach was evacuated amid reports another of a hostage situation at another location.

1er ratissage effectue par les FDS...La menace djihadiste se confirme  
Grand-Bassam is around 40km from Abidjan, the economic capital of the Ivory Coast.
A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said officials were "urgently" trying to establish whether any British nationals had been caught up in the incident.
The US Embassy said in a statement: "We are monitoring the situation in Grand-Bassam closely.
REUTERS/Luc GnagoSoldiers stand guard in front of the Etoile du Sud hotel in Bassam, Ivory Coast
STRINGER/AFP/Getty ImagesA photo taken by a witness at the scene shows a victim being loaded on a pick-up truck

"There is no evidence that U.S. citizens were targeted and we have no confirmed reports of any U.S citizens as being harmed."
Ivory Coast is former French colony which still has strong ties with France.
Grand-Bassam is a beach resort popular with ex-pats and Ivorians who work for French companies.
The atrocity follows similar gun attacks on hotels in Mali and Burkina Faso in recent months.
ReutersGrand Bassam

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