Bodies of Spanish journalists killed in Burkina Faso are flown home

The bodies of two Spanish journalists murdered in Burkina Faso by terrorists apparently linked to Al-Qaeda were flown back to Madrid today (Friday) by military plane.

David Beriain and Roberto Fraile were travelling in a convoy in a rural area in the southeast of the African country when they were ambushed and shot. The two men, who were well-known for reporting from dangerous areas, had been making a documentary about illegal hunting. An Irish anti-poaching campaigner, named as Rory Young, was also killed.

The convoy was made up of two vehicles and around 20 motorcycles carrying journalists, environmental workers and a military escort that is believed to have fled once the attack began. Reporter Beriain, 44, and cameraman Fraile, 47, had reportedly left one of the vehicles to take some drone video footage at the time.

A local Al-Queda group known as JNIM released a recorded statement saying, "We have killed three white men. We also have two vehicles with machine guns and two motorcycles."

The Spanish authorities are investigating the hypothesis that the attackers were linked to the Al-Qaeda group as well as alternative theories of a roadside robbery or illegal hunters protecting themselves. The local Spanish consulate also commented on how difficult it had been to retrieve the bodies.

Eleven Spanish journalists have died in conflict zones since 1980.