Ivory Coast : 16 dead in Grand Bassam beach resort, al Qaeda terrorists attack

The attackers fired on beach-goers in Grand Bassam, about 40km (25 miles) from the commercial capital Abidjan. At least four men armed with AK47s and hand grenades killed 16 people, including four Europeans, in the historic town of Grand Bassam before they were gunned down in a shootout with government troops. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) said it launched the attack. The gunmen have been "neutralised", officials say. Graphic images showed several dead bodies, some of whom are thought to be French tourists, scattered across the beach near the hotel.

The resort is popular with both locals and foreigners. Four of the dead were Westerners, including a French and a German national, officials say. 

One survivor who saw the attack unfold said: 

'They killed a child despite him kneeling down and begging. They shot a woman in the chest. They've killed innocent people.'

Another witness, Marcel Guy, said a man with a long beard spoke to two children in Arabic and spared the life of the one who was able to recite an Islamic prayer.

'The Christian boy was shot and killed right in front of my eyes,' Guy said. 

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He said a total of six attackers were later killed by soldiers, adding: 'I am very proud of our security forces who reacted so fast... The toll could've been much heavier.'

The heavily armed, balaclava clad shooters yelled 'Allah Akbar' before they opened fired on guests at the L'Etoile du Sud [Southern Star] hotel which was full of expats at the time.

Security forces and members of the Ivorian Red Cross were pictured dragging the dead bodies from the blood stained sand earlier today.