Fourteen civilians, including four Europeans, and two soldiers were killed in the Ivory Coast beach resort of Grand Bassam on Sunday when gunmen stormed the popular retreat and opened fire, president Alassane Ouattara said.
“Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon . . . We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed,” Mr Ouattara said during a visit to the site.
Interior minister Hamed Bakayoko said Ivory Coast’s security forces “neutralised six terrorists” on Sunday after the deadly attack.
“Three hotels in Grand Bassam were attacked this Sunday by armed men.
“Security and defence forces intervened immediately and were able to neutralise six terrorists. The clean-up operation is under way,” he said on state television.
Grand Bassam is a weekend retreat for Abidjan residents about 40km east of the commercial capital.
Its beaches, bars and hotels are popular with Westerners.
Gunmen
The gunmen were not identified and it was unclear if they were affiliated with any militant group.
A witness to the attacks took pictures that he believed showed grenades and ammunition clips that had been left behind by the attackers.
The incident took place nearly two months after Islamist fighters killed dozens of people in a hotel and café frequented by foreigners in neighbouring Burkina Faso’s capital Ouagadougou, raising concern that the reach of militancy in West Africa was spreading.
Reuters