Gunfire Erupts at Niger Capital’s Airport
Residents report gunshots and explosions near Niamey airport; no immediate claim of responsibility.
Residents in Niger's capital, Niamey, reported gunfire coming from the airport area on Sunday morning. The shots began around 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and lasted for about an hour, according to Reuters news agency, which also noted explosions. Two witnesses told AFP that the gunfire originated from the entrance of the airport.
Niger has been grappling with a militant Islamist insurgency for a decade. In January, suspected jihadists launched an attack on the same airport. Like its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger is governed by a military junta that came to power partly due to the failure to address the violence.
No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday's attack, and authorities have not yet commented. However, an Islamic State affiliate stated it carried out the January assault. This is a breaking news story, and further details will be released shortly.
