Assailants kill dozens in attacks on mosque and church in Burkina Faso
Attack on mosque in Burkina kills dozens, say local and security sources
An attack on a mosque in eastern Burkina Faso on Monday (Feb 26) claimed the lives of dozens of Muslims, following another deadly attack on Catholics attending mass, reported news agency AFP citing security sources.
"Armed individuals attacked a mosque in Natiaboani on Sunday around 5am, resulting in several dozen being killed," a security source said.
"The victims were all Muslims, most of them men" who had come for morning prayers, a local resident said by telephone.
"The terrorists entered the town early morning. They surrounded the mosque and shot at the faithful, who were gathered there for the first prayer of the day," another local source said according to AFP.
"Several of them were shot, including an important religious leader," the source added.
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According to the sources the attack targeted the members of the Volunteers for the Defence of the Fatherland (VDP), which is a civilian force that backs the armed forces in the country.
In terms of the number of attackers and the extent of the damage they caused, the source described it as a "large-scale attack".
At least 15 worshippers killed in attack on Church
Hours before the mosque attack, at least 15 civilians were killed and two others were wounded in a "terrorist" attack on a Catholic church during Sunday mass in northern Burkina Faso.
"We bring to your attention a terrorist attack which the Catholic community of Essakane village was the victim of today, February 25, while they were gathered for Sunday prayer," the vicar of the Dori diocese, Jean-Pierre Sawadogo, said in a statement.
Sawadogo denounced "those who continue to wreak death and desolation in our country," and called for peace and security in the country.
The village of Essakane is located in the northeast of the country, close to the shared borders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. This area is referred to as the "three borders" zone.
(With inputs from agencies)