Burkina Faso: kidnapped journalists from Spain and Ireland found dead

During a search operation in the eastern part of Burkina Faso, the bodies of 4 people abducted on April 26 were found: one Irish and two Spanish journalists, as well as a local soldier accompanying them, Reuters reports.

Journalists took part in an action to protect animals, they worked on a film about national parks suffering from poachers. At the time of the attack by a large group of unidentified journalists, the journalists were near the border with Beninoi, on the territory of the Pama nature reserve. Their car bore anti-poacher insignia.

The armed attackers, in the number of several dozen people, traveled in about ten motorcycles and two cars. Agence France Press, citing a source from the Burkina Faso security forces, reports that the car with the journalists was hijacked. Three people from the anti-poacher patrol team were injured.

Pedro Sanchez, Prime Minister of Spain, tweeted yesterday:

“The terrible news has been confirmed. I express my support for the families and friends of David Beriain and Roberto Fraile, who were killed in Burkina Faso. We express our recognition to those who, like them, carry out courageous journalistic activities from the conflict zones every day.”

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) has asked local authorities to promptly investigate the circumstances of the attack and death of journalists, find the perpetrators and bring them to justice. The federation said they were shocked by the murder of media representatives and were confident that the attack was planned in advance.

So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the incident. In recent years, Burkina Faso, a state in West Africa, has become the epicenter of terrorist activities by Islamist groups. The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and Ansar ul-Islam, members of the international extremist terrorist organization, operate in the east and north-east of the country.

…



Source link