Burkina Faso: 20 killed in Al Qaeda attack on hotel

Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the attack on a hotel and cafe frequented by Westerners in the capital of Burkina Faso where a hostage situation is currently underway.

Around 20 people have been killed and 15 injured so far.

According to CNN, security forces have managed to bring out eight hostages from the hotel but uncertainty remains as to the number of hostages still inside.

On Friday night, armed gunmen stormed the hotel, took hostages and exchanged fire with security forces killing several.

Meanwhile, sporadic gunfire can be heard from the hotel while several bodies have been seen outside the 'Splendid Hotel'.

Burkinabe security forces circled the hotel and were joined by a group of plainclothes Americans carrying weapons and French soldiers, a journalist at the scene told CNN.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, led by veteran figure Mokhtar Belmokhtar claimed responsibility for the attack.

Al-Mourabitoun had claimed credit for an attack at the Radisson Blu Hotel in neighboring Mali in late November that left 22 people dead, according to the U.N. mission in Mali.