A tweeter who has been posting many photos and videos from the scene of the Ouagadougou attack.

Intense gunfire can be heard in this video:

A tweeter has shared a video of the aftermath of the explosion in Burkina Faso's capital.

It shows shattered car windows.

The French embassy in Burkina Faso has gone back on its original message that it was a target in the ongoing attack in Ouagadougou, reports news site Le Monde Afrique.

It quotes the embassy as saying that it is not being targeted and that there is "no certainty at this stage on the targeted places".

The news site reports that the embassy had earlier posted, "attack in progress at the French Embassy and the French Institute".

We are getting pictures through showing that the smoke from explosions during the unfolding attack on Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou has seemingly completely filled the sky.

People watched as the black smoke rose:

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Kalidou Sy, the correspondent for France 24 news service in Ouagadougou has said , externalit is "impossible to know who are the attackers" in the capital.

The mayor of the city had previously blamed jihadists.

Burkina Faso is battling jihadist groups.

On 13 August last year, two attackers opened fire on a restaurant on Ouagadougou's main avenue, killing 19 people. But no-one has said they were behind that attack either.

French news site Le Monde Afrique is quoting a security source saying that "one or two cars probably exploded" in the army compound.

We have been reporting that smoke has been billowing up into the air in Burkina Faso's capital after an attack at the military facility but it is unclear what was burning.

A video showing thick black smoke rising in Burkina Faso's capital after an attack at the army headquarters has been shared on Twitter.

A tweeter has shared pictures of a military helicopter hovering over the capital, Ouagadougou.

He tweets that the soldiers are from Burkinabe and French armies.

French publication Le Monde Afrique, external is quoting the mayor of the Burkina Faso's capital, Armand Béouindé, blaming "jihadists" for the unfolidng attack in Ouagadougou.

"Apparently, it is a jihadist attack and the army is active in the response," he is quoted as saying.

Nobody has said they are behind the attack so far.

Mr Béouindé told the news site that windows of his office have been shattered and that attackers shot at the town hall.

A journalist for French channel TV5 Monde has tweeted a picture showing the explosion inside the army headquarters:

Witnesses told AFP news agency that five armed men got out of the car and opened fire on passersby in the unfolding attack in Burkina Faso's capital Ouagadougou.

The witnessess added that there was a heavy exchange of gunfire and the car the assailants used caught fire.

AFP has added the French cultural centre to the list of targets which included the French embassy and the military headquarters.

Police and army have been deployed to the areas of the attack.

A tweeter has posted pictures of what he describes as "total Panic in Ouagadougou" showing security personnel are now on the scene:

It is unclear if it is one the scenes of the unfolding attack.

Claude Foly
BBC Africa

Witnesses say armed men arrived in a vehicle, shouting "Allahu Akbar'" or “God is great” and started shooting at the twin attack is underway in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso's capital.

Gun fire was heard near the French embassy.

There was an explosion at the army headquarters where black smoke can be seen billowing.

Another group of unidentified men also opened fire at the headquarters of the state broadcaster.

Burkina Faso, a landlocked nation in West Africa but has been increasingly targeted by militant groups recently.

In August last year, several people lost their lives in an assault by extremists in a restaurant popular with foreigners in Ouagadougou.

Burkina Faso police say in a Facebook post that the defence and security forces are "in action" against the attack in the capital Ouagadougou:

The police say the attack is near the "United Nations roundabout".

The US embassy in Burkina Faso has tweeted that it has recieved reports of gunfire in the capital Ouagadougou.

It urges people to "seek secure shelter".

The Reuters news agency has added to its report that masked men were seen attacking the army headquarters in Burkina Faso's capital, Ouagadougou.

It reports that witnesses heard gunfire before the explosion which has resulted in thick smoke billowing above the headquarters.

The French ambassador in Burkina Faso has tweeted to warn that there is an "attack in progress" in the capital Ouagadougou and to "stay in a safe space":

The Reuters news agency is reporting, quoting witnesses, that masked gun men attacked guards at the army headquarters in the capital, Ouagadougou following the initial explosion.

This is a developing story, stay with us for more updates.

More pictures are coming through from different angles of the explosion in the capital of Burkina Faso.

A Twitter account that monitors French news sources has shared a picture of bystanders looking at the rising smoke after an explosion in the capital Ouagadougou.

It says the explosion happened near the French embassy.