At least 20 people were killed in a terrorist attack at a hotel in West Africa’s Burkina Faso Friday night, according to a local hospital chief.
Six gunmen entered the Splendid Hotel in the capital city Ouagadougou Friday evening and began exchanging fire with hotel security before taking hostages.
American and French soldiers arrived at the scene shortly after the initial attack. Few details are known about the hostage situation.
A Islamic militant sub-group of Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the Mauritania-based Al Akhbar news agency. The Al-Mourabitoun group is also believed to be behind the November attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel, which left 22 people dead.
The U.S. Embassy in Ouagadougou issued a statement on Twitter about the ongoing attack, but did not say if any Americans are staying at or visiting the hotel.
The US Embassy informs US citizens that until further notice, Embassy personnel have been instructed to avoid downtown Ouagadougou.
— USEmbassyOuaga (@Usembassyouaga) January 15, 2016
