Ivory Coast arrests man suspected of link to massacre

May 27, 2016 5:44 AM

"The driver who transported the weapons was arrested Thursday. He is currently being interrogated in the police station," said a presenter on national television.

A police cordon is seen while Ivorian police prepare to inspect the area of the hotel Etoile du Sud following an attack by gunmen from al Qaeda's North African branch, in Grand Bassam, Ivory Coast, March 14, 2016.

Ivory Coast authorities arrested a man on Thursday suspected of transporting weapons for an attack that killed 19 people at the beach resort of Grand Bassam in March, according to national television.

No other details were given. Reuters could not immediately verify the statement and the police were not available for comment.

Gunmen shot swimmers and sunbathers before storming into several hotels in Grand Bassam, 40 km (25 miles) from the commercial capital, Abidjan, on March 13. Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attack.

About 17 people have been arrested in connection with the attacks, although the suspected ringleader, Kounta Dallah, remains at large.