Restaurant attack leaves 17 dead in Burkina Faso

By Alpha Kamara

DAKAR, Senegal (AA) - At least 17 people have been killed and 12 others injured in an attack on a restaurant in Burkina Faso's capital, police said Monday.

The attack started when “three or four” gunmen pulled up on motorbikes at the Aziz Istanbul restaurant in Ouagadougou at around 9.30 p.m. (2130GMT) Sunday and started shooting.

Communications Minister Remis Dandjinou told state broadcaster Radio Television du Burkina that three attackers were later killed by security forces.

The police operation lasted until early Monday morning.

Dandjinou described the incident as a “terrorist attack”. No group has yet claimed responsibility.

Local journalist Francois Brado told Anadolu Agency that police said the victims were of different nationalities, including French and Turkish.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement that one of the victims was Turkish.

“We are deeply saddened to learn that a Turkish citizen was among the dead and another one is among the injured,” the ministry said in a statement.

“We strongly condemn the terrorist attack that happened in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou yesterday evening, which caused the death and injury of scores. We convey our condolences to families of victims and wish a speedy recovery to the brotherly Burkina Faso people.”

In January 2016, 30 people were killed in a similar attack on the Splendid hotel in Ouagadougou perpetrated by al-Qaida-linked militants.