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Suspected jihadists kill hundreds in Burkina Faso attack

Hundreds were eliminated in northcentral Burkina Faso on Saturday after thought jihadists opened fire on them as they were digging trenches around a town to secure it from attacks, victims' relatives and a source who spoke to injured survivors said.

The attack outside the town of Barsalogho is one of the most dangerous because groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State moved into Burkina Faso from neighbouring Mali almost a years back, plunging the Sahel nation into a security crisis that added to 2 coups in 2022.

The judgment junta has condemned the violence, but did not say how many people were eliminated.

Hundreds of wounded people were evacuated to health care facilities in the city of Kaya, around 40 kilometres (25. miles) south, where a source who did not want to be called for. worry of retribution said the death toll from the attack was. likely greater than 500.

Speaking through telephone on Tuesday, the source said Burkina. Faso troops had actually forced unwilling Barsalogho citizens to stop. their day-to-day activities and dig trenches around the town to prevent. insurgents.

Hundreds were at work outside when thought jihadists. assaulted, the source said, pointing out the accounts of numerous. hurt victims in Kaya.

All they could do was rest on top of each other. It was. carnage, the source stated, including that gunmen also shot at women. who were collecting firewood close by.

Family members of Barsalogho locals in the capital Ouagadougou. issued a joint declaration on Sunday communicating a comparable chain of. events.

They stated a minimum of 400 people had been killed, either on the. area or succumbing to injuries later on, and that hundreds more. were hospitalised between Kaya and the capital Ouagadougou.

Reuters has not been able to separately confirm the. estimated death toll.

The declaration implicated the army of requiring citizens to dig. the trenches, beating those who feared reprisals for noticeably. siding with authorities in an area rife with violent insurgent. activity.

Junta representative Jean Emmanuel Ouedraogo did not instantly. react to a request for remark. He headed a delegation of. authorities that checked out hospitalised survivors in Kaya on Sunday. and Barsalogho on Monday.

The federal government joins you in prayers for the souls of the. deceased, Ouedraogo told regional media throughout the journey, saying. that jihadists had killed individuals engaged in community work.

He admired health employees, and stated the government would. cover medical expenses and provide humanitarian assistance.

Civil society have arranged blood donations in Kaya, where. the diocese stated a day of grieving on Wednesday.

The United States embassy in Ouagadougou on Tuesday stated the. U.S. highly condemns the terrorist attack.

No group has actually straight declared responsibility for the. bloodshed. Al Qaeda affiliate Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa. al-Muslimin stated it had actually taken control of believed army. head office in Barsalogho on Aug. 24.

(source: Reuters)