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Gunmen kill 16 at Ivory Coast resort

Shay MeineckeMarch 14, 2016

Terrorists have attacked a popular Ivory Coast beach resort, killing locals and tourists. The latest attack has added to the string of high-profile assaults in North and West Africa.

https://p.dw.com/p/1ICa8
Security forces evacuate people in Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 13, 2016.
Image: Reuters/J. Penney

Heavily armed gunmen killed at least 16 people at the Grand-Bassam beach resort town on Sunday. The terrorist organization Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for the attack, according to the SITE Intelligence group.

"Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon," Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said at the site. "We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed."

Ivory Coast's Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko added that foreign citizens from France, Germany, Burkina Faso, Mali and Cameroon were among the victims.

Elfenbeinküste Anschlag Grand Bassam in Abidjan
The beach near Grand Bassam where locals and tourists were attackedImage: Getty Images/AFP/S. Kambou

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier confirmed there had been a German fatality.

The attackers targeted hotels and people at the beach resort, a popular retreat for locals and foreigners that sits some 40 kilometers (24 miles) east of the commercial capital, Abidjan.

Witnesses at the scene said gunmen opened fire on swimmers and sunbathers, and then directed their attention towards the busy seafront where people were eating and drinking during lunchtime.

"They started shooting and everyone just started running. There were women and children running and hiding," said a witness at the scene.

Growing concern

The recent attack has added concern that jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda would continue to strike targets frequented by foreign tourists.

In recent months, jihadist militants with ties to al Qaeda have carried out attacks on luxury hotels in Mali and Burkina Faso that left dozens killed and many others wounded.

smm/jm (AFP, Reuters)