Gunmen attack three Ivory Coast hotels; 16 people dead

Gunmen stormed three hotels in the beach resort city of Grand-Bassam Sunday, killing 16, officials said. At least one French national was murdered in the attack.

 

The U.S. and France have pledged assistance to the Ivory Coast as the West African nation investigates a fatal shooting that left at least 16 people dead.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for the attacks in a statement posted on a social media account tied to the group.

 

The death toll included 14 civilians and two soldiers, President Alassane Ouattara said as he visited the site of the attacks. Six attackers also died, he said.

 

The U.N. joined the U.S. and French governments in denouncing the incident.

 

French President Francois Hollande said that at least one French citizen was killed in the "cowardly attack."

 

The White House also condemned it "in the strongest terms," National Security Council spokesman Ned Price said.

The U.S. Embassy in Abidjan reported that it had no evidence that U.S. citizens were targeted or harmed.

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