At least 28 people from 18 different countries were killed in an Al Qaeda attack on a hotel in the West African country Burkina Faso. The siege ended late Saturday after more than 12 hours, AP reported. According to reports, the assailants targeted non-Muslim people of different nationalities, as was seen in the attacks in Paris and Jakarta.

Authorities said the four jihadis, two of whom were women, stormed the 147-room Splendid Hotel in the capital city of Ouagadougou on Friday. They had reportedly come in a vehicle with a Nigerian number plate. Witnesses claimed some spoke in French with an Arabic accent. Al Qaeda claimed the attack, which extended to nearby cafe Cappuccino, in an audio tape titled “A Message Signed with Blood and Body Parts”.

Both targeted locations were frequented by United Nations staff and foreigners. Until now, Burkina Faso was spared such terrorist attacks that are commonplace in its neighbouring countries, reported AP.