Soldiers stand guard in front of the Etoile du Sud hotel in Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 13, 2016. PHOTO: REUTERS
Security forces "neutralised six terrorists" on Sunday following a deadly attack on a Ivory Coast beach resort town that left more than a dozen people dead, according to Interior Minister Hamed Bakayoko.
"Three hotels in Grand Bassam were attacked this Sunday by armed men. Security and defence forces intervened immediately and were able to neutralise six terrorists. The clean-up operation is under way," he said on state television.
The shooting took place at Grand Bassam, a weekend retreat for Abidjan residents about 40 km east of the commercial capital Abidjan. Its beaches, bars and hotels are popular with Western tourists and expats.
The gunmen have not yet been identified and it was unclear if they were affiliated with any militant group. However a site monitoring group in a recent update has said that the North African branch of al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the deadly attack.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2016.
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