Trudeau leads moment of silence at Peterborough mosque for Burkina Faso victims

The overnight seizure of a luxury hotel in Burkina Faso’s capital by al-Qaida-linked extremists ended Saturday when Burkina Faso and French security forces killed four jihadist attackers and freed more than 126 people, the West African nation’s president said.

Meanwhile a press release from Burkina Faso’s military has confirmed another attack close to the border with Mali during which 2 people were killed. Here in Ouagadougou, the victims had been grabbing a cold drink outside or staying at one of the capital’s few upscale hotels.

Al Qaeda of Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.

Thieba and his Malian counterpart Modibo Keita visited the outside of the Splendid Hotel on Sunday, where bullet holes and a charred exterior offered reminders of Friday evening’s attack.

The victims included six Canadians, two French, two Dutch and two Swiss nationals and an American missionary. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday said six Canadians had been killed.

Three attackers were killed at the hotel and a fourth was killed when security forces cleared out a second hotel nearby. “This terrorist act comes as the people of Burkina Faso clearly expressed their determination to live in peace and stability by their peaceful vote last November”, Mogherini said in a statement.