Gunmen have attacked the French embassy and military headquarters in Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou on Friday.
Four of the suspects were killed at the embassy while at least two others were also killed at the military headquarters, Burkina Faso’s Information Minister Remis Fulgance Dandjinou confirmed on state TV.
Civilian casualties were not recorded at both scenes, but an unspecified number of security personnel were wounded, he adds.
French news agency AFP reports that the situation is under control at the embassy. The two targets are a few meters away from the prime minister’s office in the city.
Gunmen attacked several targets in Burkina Faso, including the army headquarters and the French embassy.
A spokesperson for the French embassy said the situation is “under control.” pic.twitter.com/QfFq18uoxd
— AJ+ (@ajplus) March 2, 2018
Soldiers and other security forces including French troops have been deployed around the city to maintain security. Smoke is seen billowing from the French embassy.
Le gouvernement burkinabé annonce au moins 7 de ses soldats tués au cours de l’attaque de #Ouagadougou #Burkina pic.twitter.com/TAgIDS7i5v
— Nicolas Pinault (@PinaultNicolas) March 2, 2018
Eyewitnesses say they saw four gunmen holding automatic weapons attempt to enter the embassy and later heard gunshots, the BBC reports.
The government is blaming Islamist extremists for the attack. This is the third major attack in Ouagadougou in the past two years.
