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Fourteen civilians and two special forces soldiers were shot dead after gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs and wearing balaclavas opened fire at a popular beach resort.

Four Europeans, including a French national, and a five-year-old child were reportedly among those slaughtered on the sand bordering three hotels in the coastal city Grand-Bassam.

President Alassane Ouattara confirmed that at least 16 people were shot dead by six gunmen at the weekend retreat, said to be favoured by Westerners, during a visit to the site.

The Côte d'Ivoire leader said: "Six attackers came onto the beach in Bassam this afternoon... We have 14 civilians and two special forces soldiers who were unfortunately killed."

(Image: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images) (Image: SIA-KAMBOU/AFP/Getty Images)

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He added that the six attackers, who are yet to be identified, were also killed.

Some witnesses said the gunmen were shouting "Alluha Akbar", which translates to "God is greatest", during the rampage.

State minister Hamed Bakayoko said security checks are under way and a toll of people killed and injured will be announced in the coming hours.

He has urged the public to remain calm after the incident in the south-eastern beach resort, about 25 miles east of Ivory Coast's economic centre, Abidjan.

Dramatic footage showed people running away from the beach to sound of gunfire in the background.

Graphic images of dead bodies have also been shared on social media while others showed locals looking at what appeared to be body armour and grenades left in the street.

(Image: SIA-KAMBOU/AFP/Getty Images) (Image: SIA-KAMBOU/AFP/Getty Images)

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According to one witness "the gunshots came from a boat in front of the beach".

Another Dramane Kima said: "I saw seven dead that I filmed. There were four attackers.

"I was swimming when it started and I ran away."

Witness Josiane Sekongo, 25, said shots rang out in the town, a popular weekend destination for Ivorians and foreigners.

Ms Sekongo, who lives across from one of Grand-Bassam's many beachfront hotels, said she ran outside when she heard the gunfire and saw people running away from the beach.

(Image: Twitter) (Image: Twitter)

She said residents were hiding in their homes as security forces responded.

The beach was evacuated amid reports another of a hostage situation at another location.

Grand-Bassam is around 40km from Abidjan, the economic capital of the Ivory Coast.

A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office said officials were "urgently" trying to establish whether any British nationals had been caught up in the incident.

The US Embassy said in a statement: "We are monitoring the situation in Grand-Bassam closely.

(Image: REUTERS/Luc Gnago) (Image: STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images)

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"There is no evidence that U.S. citizens were targeted and we have no confirmed reports of any U.S citizens as being harmed."

Ivory Coast is former French colony which still has strong ties with France.

Grand-Bassam is a beach resort popular with ex-pats and Ivorians who work for French companies.

The atrocity follows similar gun attacks on hotels in Mali and Burkina Faso in recent months.