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March 2nd, 2018 
Awake Goy A number of locations were targeted in the capital of the West African nation on Friday by suspected Islamic extremists, including the prime minister’s office, close to the French embassy.
Masked gunmen with backpacks attacked guards at the entrance to an army headquarters, which followed an explosion, according to a Reuters eyewitness. It’s not yet clear what caused the blast or if there have been any injuries.
A separate attack was also launched near the prime minister’s office, according to a police statement. Security units have been deployed to the scene near the French embassy which was targeted in the possible two-pronged terrorist attack.
Islamic extremists are suspected of being behind the attack on the capital, according to Burkina Faso’s police director general. Jean Bosco Kienou told AP on Friday that “the form is that of a terrorist attack.” Witnesses are reported to have heard the assailants yell “Allahu Akhbar” before setting fire to a vehicle and opening fire in front of the embassy.
France’s ambassador to Africa’s Sahel region, Jean-Marc Châtaigner, called the explosion a “terrorist attack” on Twitter and told people to avoid the downtown area. “Terrorist attack this morning in Ougadougou, Burkina Faso: solidarity with colleagues and Burkinabe friends,” Jean-Marc Châtaigner wrote.
The French embassy in Burkina Faso took to Facebook to warn locals of an “ongoing attack” and told people to “stay confined. “No certainty at this stage of the locations,” read the statement.
Live footage from the scene on Friday showed black smoke billowing from a burning building near embassies, while gunfire rang out in the background. The area of the explosion is surrounded by government buildings and embassies.
The US embassy has advised people to “seek secure shelter” amid reports of gunfire in the downtown area. French President Emmanuel Macron said he is being updated on the developments of the attack, in a statement released by the Elysee Palace on Friday.
Images shared on social media from the scene showed the remnants of an apparent explosion. Broken glass from dozens of smashed windows in an apartment block can be seen scattered on the street and on parked cars, while heavy black smoke fills the sky above.
Source Article from https://www.rt.com/news/420272-burkina-faso-gunfire-embassy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS
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