Islamist gunmen kill 8 soldiers, wound 13

LOME: Eight soldiers were killed and 13 wounded in an attack in northern Togo yesterday, the government said, marking potentially the first deadly raid on its territory by Islamist militants who have killed thousands in neighbouring countries.

A group of heavily armed gunmen ambushed an army post in the Kpendjal prefecture near the border with Burkina Faso, the government said.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. The government blamed “terrorists”.

Security analysts said the attack was likely carried out by a local al-Qaeda affiliate that is based in Mali but in recent years has spread south into Burkina Faso.