14 civilians, six terrorists and two special forces operatives killed in Ivory Coast
The president of Ivory Coast has said two special forces operatives were killed as attackers targeted beach-goers and three hotels in the historic resort town of Grand-Bassam.
Fourteen civilians and six armed suspects were also killed.
Alassane Ouattara is visiting the town's hotels to express condolences and salute the security forces for their quick responses.
Ivory Coast officials say at least five people have died after an attack on beach resort Grand-Bassam by at least six armed men.
The owner of the Etoile du Sud said at least one person was killed at his hotel, while a reporter saw four dead bodies on a beach next to the establishment.
Security forces and members of the Ivorian Red Cross are clearing the bodies.
Witness Marcel Guy saw at least four gunmen with Kalashnikov rifles on the beach. He said one approached two children, and spoke in Arabic.
One child knelt and prayed, but the other was shot dead.
President Alassane Ouattara is expected to arrive at the scene shortly.
Ivory Coast Interior Minister has said security forces have 'neutralised six terrorists.'
Eye-witness have told media the gunmen shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before gunning down women and children.
Sky's Foreign Affairs Editor Sam Kiley has said it obvious what the terrorists motive was: “I think it is very clear that this was an attack aimed at trying to disrupt the ivory coast’s recovery from its own period of political violence by hitting at the tourist trade and trying to rattle the ex-patriate communities.”
A receptionist at the Etoile de Sud hotel in Grand-Bassam said the attacks happened on the beach.
"We don't know where they came from, and we don't know where they've gone," he said of the gunmen.
Everyone in the hotel was safe, and police were present, he said.
An American embassy delegation was in Grand-Bassam on Sunday, but the US Embassy in Abidjan said it is monitoring the situation and it has no evidence that US citizens were targeted. It could not confirm reports of any US citizens having been harmed.
Attacks by extremists on hotels frequented by foreigners in two other West African countries, Mali in November and Burkina Faso in January, killed dozens of people and indicated that extremist attacks are spreading from North Africa.
The historic town of Grand-Bassam is a Unesco World Heritage site.
Fresh reports have said at least 12 people have been killed, including four Europeans.
A witness said four attackers opened fire with machine guns as they entered the hotel in Grand-Bassam.
Reports suggest the attackers were "heavily armed and wearing balaclavas" as they stormed the Southern Star hotel.
A shooting has been reported at a beach resort on the Ivory Coast.
At least six people have died in the gun attack.
The army is reportedly evacuating the beach in Grand #Bassam following the shooting #IvoryCoast pic.twitter.com/bGsTeC8FHD
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 13, 2016
Social media reports have said there are men with machine guns at a hotel resort popular with Western tourists.
The hotel is located in Grand-Bassam which is about 40km (25 miles) east of the country's main city, Abidjan.
#BREAKING: Reports of shooting by men with machine guns at hotel in Ivory Coast beach resort that's popular with Western tourists (AFP)
— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) March 13, 2016
Footage of tourists fleeing the area has been uploaded to Twitter.
Footage: People are fleeing the shooting in Grand Bassam #IvoryCoast pic.twitter.com/PipGxD3Uzc
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 13, 2016
Some say the attack may have been organised.
Some of the weapons found in Grand #Bassam, definitely point to an organized attack #IvoryCoast pic.twitter.com/ezJJeFrHHa
— Michael A. Horowitz (@michaelh992) March 13, 2016
More as we get it.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
