2 Canadians among 18 killed in suspected extremist attack

OTTAWA — Global Affairs Canada has identified one of the two Canadians killed in a suspected terrorist attack in Burkina Faso as Tammy Chen of Ontario, while a Quebec-based anti-poverty group said one of its volunteers was the second Canadian victim, Bilel Diffalah.

Ottawa said out of respect for the family it would not confirm the identity of the second Canadian victim.

The incident happened late Sunday when suspected Islamic terrorists opened fire at a Turkish restaurant in the country’s capital, killing 18 people in all.

Earlier on Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland confirmed the deaths of the two Canadians.

“It is with very great sorrow that I can confirm the deaths of two Canadians in yesterday’s attack in Burkina Faso,” Freeland said.

“The heartfelt condolences of our government go out to the loved ones of those targeted and the victims of this tragic attack. Canadian consular officials are working hard to provide assistance to their loved ones.”

The Montreal-based non-governmental organization, called CECI, has been operating in Burkina Faso since 1985.

In a statement released Monday, CECI’s Odette McCarthy said Diffalah volunteered with the the NGO as an adviser for hygiene and biosecurity.

“CECI would like to express its most deepest condolences to the family and friends of the volunteer, Bilel Diffalah,” she said.

Chen holds degrees from McGill University and Queen’s University and was the president and co-founder of a Canadian NGO called Bright Futures Burkina Faso.

She was studying for her PhD at University of Cambridge when she was killed.

Local authorities say other foreigners killed include two Kuwaitis and one person each from France, Senegal, Nigeria, Lebanon and Turkey.

Several Burkina Faso citizens were also killed, and authorities said other victims had not yet been identified.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the violence, which continued into the early hours Monday.