Two Spaniards and an Irishman, who disappeared after an attack on Monday in eastern Burkina Faso, "were executed by terrorists," a senior Burkinabe security service official announced on Tuesday.
"It is very unfortunate, but the three Westerners were executed by the terrorists," said the official.
"The people in images released by armed groups have been identified as the three Westerners who were missing since yesterday" Tuesday, he added.
More and more frequent attacks
An anti-poaching patrol made up of Burkinabé soldiers and forest guards, accompanied by Western trainers and journalists, was attacked on Monday on the Fada N'Gourma-Pama axis in eastern Burkina Faso.
The attack was carried out by armed men traveling in two pick-up vehicles and a dozen motorcycles, according to security sources, who specified that weapons and equipment, motorcycles, two pick-ups and a drone, had been taken away by the attackers.
Several hostage-taking of foreigners have taken place in recent years in Burkina Faso, which has been facing increasingly frequent jihadist attacks since 2015.
World
Operation Barkhane: "We have the impression of being confronted with an endless war"
World
Sahel: Emmanuel Macron calls for strengthening the fight against Al-Qaeda and promises not to reduce the French workforce
Ireland
Execution
Spain
Burkina faso
Terrorist attack
Terrorism
World