- Gunmen believed to be linked to Al-Qaeda attacked three hotels in the southern Ivory Coast
- The firing left 16 dead: 14 civilians and 2 soldiers
- The Al Qaeda chapter in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the attack
Sixteen people in the southern Ivory Coast were killed on Sunday by perpetrators believed to be linked to terrorist group Al-Qaeda.
The attackers entered three hotels in the popular beach resort and fired guns. CNN said in a recent report that the Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility for the attack.
Photo credit: CNN
“The attackers, who were “heavily armed and wearing balaclavas, fired at guests at the Etoile du Sud, a large hotel which was full of expats in the current heatwave,” a Fox News story wrote.
The total death toll was 16: 14 civilians and 2 soldiers. There were also six gunmen killed. BBC detailed that four of the dead were Western people with a French and German national.
This is not the first time the Al Qaeda chapter in the Islamic Maghreb terrorized hotels in West Africa.
Last year, they also claimed responsibility of hotel incidents near the Ivory Coast, which are Mali and Burkina Faso.
“AQIM has escalated its operations in West Africa, specifically targeting Europeans, as well as other foreigners, in hotels and resorts,” SITE Intelligence Group was quoted as saying.
“AQIM is also competing with ISIS for reassertion and dominance in West Africa, among other regions,” it added.
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