Al Qaeda claims responbsibility for Burkina Faso attack that killed 23

French forces near the Splendid Hotel
(Image credit: Ahmed Ouoba/AFP/Getty Images)

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for a Friday night attack at a hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Gunmen stormed the Splendid Hotel, which is popular with foreigners, and took hostages, ABC News reports.

Burkina Faso security forces encircled the hotel and engaged in gunfire with the suspected militants Saturday morning, reportedly killing four of them and freeing 126 hostages. At least 23 people were killed and 33 were injured in the attack.

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Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.