Burkina Faso to observe day of mourning for terror victims
Xinhua, January 22, 2016 Adjust font size:
Burkina Faso will on Jan. 25 observe a day of national mourning for victims of the recent terrorist attack, an official source said Thursday.
According to official figures, 30 people were killed, 71 others injured and 176 hostages freed in the attack that occurred on Jan. 15 in central Ouagadougou, and for which Al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility.
Burkina Faso security forces, supported by U.S. and French forces, managed to end the siege at Splendid hotel in Ouagadougou after a battle of 13 hours. Four security officers were injured in the confrontation.
The total number of assailants remain unknown at the moment. Many people have been arrested to assist in the ongoing investigations.
Burkinabe government has urged religious leaders to organize prayer sessions in memory of the victims and to pray for peace in the country which recently came out of a year of transition.
Following the Jan. 15 attack, security measures were reinforced within the country as well as along its borders. Enditem