Islamists open fire on passersby outside French Embassy in Burkina Faso

The capital of Burkina Faso came under multiple attacks on Friday, targeting the French embassy, the French cultural center and the country’s military headquarters, an AFP reporter and witnesses said.

Witnesses said five armed men got out of a car and opened fire on passersby before heading towards the embassy, in the center of the city.

An AFP reporter heard heavy exchanges of gunfire and saw a blazing vehicle, which witnesses said was the car used by the assailants. Police and army units were deployed in the area.