Al-Qaeda Group Claims Responsibility For Hotel Attack In Burkina Faso

An Al-Qaeda affiliate has claimed responsibility for a terrorist attack in the capital of Burkina Faso that left several people dead.

Reports from the scene say at least four armed gunman stormed the Splendid Hotel and nearby restaurant in Ouagadougou late Friday, prompting a shootout with security forces. A hospital director in the city told reporters at least 20 people were killed in the attack.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claims it organized the attack in conjunction with Al-Mourabitoun, a group led by infamous Algerian terrorist Mokhtar Belmokhtar.

If that combination sounds familiar, it's because these two groups claimed responsibility for a similar attack on a hotel in Mali last November. That attack left 22 people dead.

Burkina Faso recently elected a new president after its previous ruler, Blaise Compaore, resigned last year amid civil unrest.