Burkina Faso: Several wounded by grenade attack ahead of French President Macron’s visit

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived later Monday evening for a visit to Burkina Faso. He will head to a European-African summit in Ivory Coast Wednesday.

By: AP
Ouagadougou (burkina Faso) | November 28, 2017 04:12 PM IST

1 min read

A Burkina Faso protestor gestures in front of burning tires as he and others take to the streets in the city of Ouagadougou. (Source: AP)

Authorities in Burkina Faso say several people have been wounded by a hand grenade aimed at French soldiers just hours before the French president arrived in the West African country. Eyewitnesses say two people on a motorcycle threw the grenade late Monday in a neighborhood of the capital, Ouagadougou. The assailants missed their intended target -a bus carrying members of the French military.

However, police said Tuesday that several others were hurt. French President Emmanuel Macron arrived later Monday evening for a visit to Burkina Faso. He will head to a European-African summit in Ivory Coast Wednesday.

Burkina Faso has been battling a surge in violence blamed on Islamic extremists. The violence has included two attacks on restaurants popular with foreigners, including one in August that killed 18 people.

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