Though gunfire and explosions have been heard, no casualty has been reported thus far.

French Ambassador to Burkina Faso Xavier Lapdecab has urged people to exercise caution and stay in a safe place, while confirming that the embassy was under attack.

France's special envoy to Africa's Sahel region, Jean-Marc Châtaigner, has referred to the incident as a terrorist attack.

Burkina Faso's national police said that a special team has been deployed to repel the attackers.

The US Embassy in Ouagadougou tweeted, "@Usembassyouaga has received reports of gunfire in downtown Ouagadougou. Avoid the area of downtown Ouagadougou. Seek secure shelter. Monitor local media for updates. Check back here for more updates from the embassy."

More details are awaited.

Image: twitter.com/KarenELotter