© 2024 Connecticut Public

FCC Public Inspection Files:
WEDH · WEDN · WEDW · WEDY · WNPR
WPKT · WRLI-FM · WEDW-FM · Public Files Contact
ATSC 3.0 FAQ
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

4 Assailants, At Least 20 Victims Dead After Hours-Long Attack In Burkina Faso

Burkinabe soldiers evacuate an injured man from the Splendid hotel during an attack by Al-Qaeda-linked gunmen late Friday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso's troops, supported by French special forces, battled the attackers early Saturday morning and freed more than 120 hostages, officials say.
Ahmed Ouoba
/
AFP/Getty Images
Burkinabe soldiers evacuate an injured man from the Splendid hotel during an attack by Al-Qaeda-linked gunmen late Friday in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso's troops, supported by French special forces, battled the attackers early Saturday morning and freed more than 120 hostages, officials say.

An hours-long attack by militants on a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso's capital has left approximately 20 victims dead. An early-morning assault by security forces killed four attackers and freed 126 hostages, officials say.

Among the victims killed was an American, identified by the U.S. State Department as Michael James Riddering, according to Reuters.

The attack on the upscale Splendid Hotel and a nearby cafe began Friday night as gunman stormed the building. The hotel is popular with Westerners, NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports.

On Saturday, Burkina Faso security forces took back the hotel:

"Explosions could be heard as Burkinabe commandos, reportedly assisted by French special forces, launched an early morning assault on the Splendid to free the hostages," Ofeibea says.

Officials say they freed 126 people, from 18 different countries. They also report that they killed four militants — two of them reportedly women.

The militant group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, has claimed responsibility for the attack, the SITE Intelligence Group reports.

In November, AQIM and another extremist organization claimed joint responsibility for a deadly assault on the Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital of nearby Mali.

The Associated Press reports that, until recently, Burkina Faso had relatively safe from such attacks:

"Burkina Faso, a largely Muslim country, had for years been largely spared from the violence carried out by Islamic extremist groups who were abducting foreigners for ransom in Mali and Niger. Then last April, a Romanian national was kidnapped in an attack that was the first of its kind in Burkina Faso.

"The country also has been in growing political turmoil since its longtime president was ousted in a popular uprising in late 2014. Last September members of a presidential guard launched a coup that lasted only about a week. The transitional government returned to power until Burkina Faso's November election ushered in new leaders."

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Camila Flamiano Domonoske covers cars, energy and the future of mobility for NPR's Business Desk.

Stand up for civility

This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Public’s Members — listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information.

We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. As a community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years.

Your donation today will allow us to continue this work on your behalf. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are building a better—and more civil—Connecticut to live, work, and play.

Related Content