Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) announced that three of its members have carried out the attack on a luxury hotel in the capital of Burkina Faso.

Press sources quoted an AQIM statement as saying that the three elements are from Mali and released their photos.

The statement noted that the operation was conducted after collecting data and detecting the targets of the attack, noting that the operation aimed at assaulting the people who steal the fortunes of Africa and described the attacked hotel as one of the hot spots of spying worldwide.

A Qaeda-linked terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault at Splendid Hotel -- a popular meeting place for Western diplomats in the capital, Ouagadougou.

The attack began Friday night and dragged on under the cover of darkness. Security forces circled the perimeter to assess the situation before they stormed the place and freed 126 hostages.

Source: MENA