ABIDJAN: Scores of suspected groups raided a city in eastern Burkina Faso earlier this week, freeing prisoners, driving residents to cower indoors and causing major damage, local sources said on Thursday. It was not immediately clear if anyone died in the attack on the eastern city of Diapaga, in the second major raid in as many days in Burkina. The junta-ruled west African country has endured a decade of attacks by armed groups linked to Al Qaeda and IS, but attacks on cities are relatively rare.
Riding on motorcycles, scores of suspected militants swooped in on Diapaga on Monday, the sources said. A security source said that Diapaga "was the target of a major attack by terrorists" that resulted "in significant material damage". "An operation is under way to track down the terrorists and restore security in the city," the source continued, without providing further details. A resident said that "the terrorists set fire to several public and private services before freeing the inmates of the Diapaga prison", which was holding several people suspected of groups violence. — AFP
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