Gunmen Attack Hotels At Beach Resort In Ivory Coast
The incident occurred in the popular beachside town of Grand-Bassam, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
A hotel in Grand Bassam is pictured in April 2015.
Sia Kambou / AFP / Getty Images
Gunmen attacked two hotels in a popular beach resort town in southeastern Ivory Coast on Sunday, the government said, although it was not immediately clear how many people had been killed or injured.
The incident happened in the tourist town of Grand-Bassam, a UNESCO World Heritage site located 25 miles from the city of Abidjan.
According to a statement shared by the government on social media, security services were on scene to monitor events and protect the public.
"We ask people to not panic and keep calm," the statement read, adding people should avoid Grand-Bassam.
Google Maps.
According to the statement, there were at least 11 casualties, including five men, five women, and a child. However, the statement did not make clear if these people were injured or killed, and there were contradicting reports.
Unverified images circulating on social media purported to show several bloodied bodies lying motionless on the sand, and sources told Agence France-Presse at least five people had been killed.
The government's statement was widely picked up by French and international media, before it was subsequently deleted from official social media pages without explanation.
Josiane Sekongo, 25, told the Associated Press she ran outside of her home upon hearing shots ring out and saw people fleeing the beach.
Video shared on Facebook purported to show people fleeing the beach.