@LOPEZDOBE•TWITTER Dead bodies lie strewn on the beach

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Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara has confirmed 14 people were massacred, along with two soldiers. He has already been to the site where he said: ”Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon. “We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed." Four Europeans are believed to be among the dead following the assault which took place on the L'etoile du Sud hotel in the coastal resort of Grand Bassam. The French Government has now confirmed at least one of the dead was a French national. It is also reported at least one child were among those shot dead. Government officials said security forces have "neutralised" six armed men after attacks on three hotels including Grand Bassam's Chelsea Hotel and another in the Hotel Etoile du Sud next door. It is unclear at the moment how many tourists have been injured. Police and the army scrambled to the beach, along with medics. A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said officials were "urgently" trying to establish whether any British nationals had been caught up in the incident. North African Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has claimed responsibility for the attack. In a message posted on its Telegram channels on March 13, 2016, the group reported that three `heroes' from its group were able to storm the resort, according to the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors online communications by militant groups. ***********WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT BELOW***********

@LOPEZDOBE•TWITTER An injured victim is taken away

Reuters A man comforts an injured boy in Bassam, Ivory Coast

@LOPEZDOBE•TWITTER A victim lies dead on the beach

The gunmen are believed to be armed with kalishnikovs and grenades and according to reports on Twitter, witnesses at the scene have stated that the men were shouting "Allahu Akbar", Arabic for "God is greater" as they shot indiscriminately. Josiane Sekongo, 25, who lives across from one of the town's many beachfront hotels, said she ran outside when she heard gunshots and saw people running away from the beach. An eyewitness revealed that they even shot dead a young child because he did not speak Arabic. One survivor, Marcel Guy, told of how the shooters approached two children and spoke to them in Arabic. He said one child knelt and prayed and the other one was shot on the spot. The resort is popular with French tourists and the attack is sure to spark fears that this is a new islamic State (ISIS) attrocity coming just months after the massacre in Paris which left 130 people dead and around 300 injured.

Shortly after the attack, ISIS said it would be targeting France and its interests for the part it was playing in the coalition airstrikes on Syria. French President Francois Hollande called the attack in which at least one of his countrymen died “cowardly”. He said: "France will bring its logistical support and intelligence to Ivory Coast to find the attackers. It will pursue and intensify its cooperation with its partners in the fight against terrorism.” A total of 34 British tourists were also slaughtered by ISIS fanatics on the beach in Tunisia in June last year. A police spokesman said: "For the moment, we have a total of 12 dead, including four Europeans. "We don't know yet if there are others. We are doing clean-up operations right now." According to local media the shooting began on the beach and terrified holidaymakers fled into the hotel which is about 25 miles east of the country's main city, Abidjan.

@LOPEZDOBE•TWITTER Scattered belongings lie on the beach

Some unconfirmed reports suggest a US delegation including the US ambassador may have been the main target of the attack. Grand-Bassam is a town in the Ivory Coast, lying on the coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Witness Dramane Kima said: "I saw seven dead that I filmed. There were four attackers. "I was swimming when it started and I ran away. He also took pictures of grenades and ammunition clips that he believed had been left behind by the attackers. Luc Gnago, speaking from the resort, said there are six bodies on the beach and a westerner was lying dead in the hotel. Witness Marie Bassole said: "They started shooting and everyone just started running. There were women and children running and hiding. "It started on the beach. Whoever they saw, they shot at."

REUTERS Security forces drive towards the beach resort

Ivory Coast beach terror attack Sun, March 13, 2016 Ivory Coast terror attack death toll 'rises to 11' with 'two hotels' targeted Play slideshow Twitter 1 of 12 Terror attack

In the late-19th century it was the French colonial capital city, although in recent years it has become a tourism and craft centre. The shootings come amid breaking news that two UN peacekeepers in Mali have been shot dead by those working alongside them. It is unclear whether the two incidents are connected at this time. Bournemouth footballer Max Gradel, who is from the Ivory Coast, tweeted: "May God protect my lovely country in this hard moment Cote D'ivoire". Attacks by extremists on hotels frequented by foreigners in two other West African countries, Mali in November and Burkina Faso in January, killed dozens of people and indicated that extremist attacks are spreading from North Africa. The historic town of Grand-Bassam is a Unesco World Heritage site. The travel advice for Ivory Coast on the Foreign Office website warns against all but essential travel to certain parts of the country.

@LOPZDOBE•TWITTER Police gather around discarded grenades

Reuters A young boy was treated by armed officers and comforted by strangers

A statement from travel organisation Abta said: "We are unaware at the current time if there have been any fatalities or if any British nationals are involved. "The Foreign Office advises that British nationals should avoid the area if possible. If they are already in the vicinity, they should follow the instructions of the local security authorities. "Following recent attacks in Mali and Burkina Faso, there is a high threat of terrorism in this area. Attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners, so all British nationals are advised to remain extremely vigilant."

@LOPEZDOBE•TWITTER The cache left behind

You are looking at a group which is Al-Qaedaist in its outlook, so attacking the evil westerner is one of their prime intentions and goals International security expert Raffaello Pantucci

International security expert Raffaello Pantucci, of the Royal United Services Institute, said Al-Qaeada wanted to send a message by hitting westerners. He said: “They are basically attacking western hotels, and these attacks are being launched by Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and affiliates in the region. "These are groups that have threatened across this entire region, and in a lot of the capitals in this part of West Africa we have seen an increased threat picture, which is more linked to these Al-Qaeda groups rather than Islamic State, which struck in Tunisia. "You are looking at a group which is Al-Qaedaist in its outlook, so attacking the evil westerner is one of their prime intentions and goals. "Hitting a resort like this hits a number of goals. "It undermines the local government, because tourism is often a big driver of these local economies, so if people don't feel safe there then people are not going to come, which has an impact. "Another element is, if you attack westerners the media will pay attention to it and you will get publicity and attention. "So they are trying to attack the far enemy, who you are the westerns, it is a bit about undermining the local government and also about bringing attention to your cause.”