Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for Ivory Coast resort attack

Ivory Coast: Al-Qaeda affliated militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack at a beach resort in Ivory Coast in West Africa on Sunday.

The incident occured when a group of six armed assailants opened fire on civilians at a beach resort on Ivory Coast, killing at least 16 people including 14 civilians and two security personnel.

The assailants targetted beach goers in the resort of Grand Bassam, which is located nearly 40Km east of the country's economic capital of Abidjan.

Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Four of the dead were Westerners, including a French and a German national. The gunmen have been "neutralised", BBC quoted officials as saying.

Côte d’Ivoire or the Ivory Coast is a west African nation famous for its beach resorts and rainforests. It was a French colony till 1960. Some of the famous landmarks to visit include Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, St. Paul's Cathedral, Reserve Naturelle du Banco and Zoo Nationale d'Abidjan.