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Terror Victim In West Africa Had Chicago Area Ties

(CBS) – One of the victims killed in a terrorist attack in the West African nation of Burkina Faso has ties to the Chicago area.

Forty-five-year old Michael Riddering was shot to death during the weekend siege. He was a missionary who ran an orphanage and women's crisis center with his wife.

Riddering was among at least 32 people who died in during a 12-hour attack that began when heavily armed al-Qaeda militants stormed a hotel and cafe and set off car bombs.

Eleven Americans made it out alive, but Riddering did not.

He moved to West Africa about five years ago and adopted two children there. He still has many relatives who live in suburban Chicago and Northwest Indiana.

 

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