Gunmen kill 17 in attack on Burkina Faso restaurant, people trapped

Atleast 17 people have been killed after suspected jihadists stormed a restaurant in the capital of Burkina Faso.

The Communication minister has reported that a number of people are still trapped inside.

"This is a terrorist attack," Communications Minister Remi Dandjinou told a news conference. He said the toll was provisional because the security operation was still underway. 

Security forces have reportedly killed three suspects

Jihadist groups operating across Africa’s Sahel have targeted Burkina Faso sporadically. Most attacks have been along its remote northern border region with Mali, which has seen attacks by Islamist militants for more than a decade.

Thirty people were killed when gunmen attacked a restaurant and hotel in Ouagadougou in January 2016 in an incident claimed by al Qaeda.