Explosions, gunfire rock Niger’s capital Niamey, airport amid attempted government takeover

Sustained gunfire and explosions person been reported successful respective parts of Niger’s capital, Niamey, successful what information sources described arsenic an onslaught targeting a subject base, the planetary airdrome and the country astir the statesmanlike palace.

Witnesses told Reuters that dense gunfire was heard aboriginal Saturday, peculiarly astir Diori Hamani International Airport and Base 101, a large subject installation successful the city.

A root said, “terrorists” had attacked the airdrome and attempted to breach the information perimeter astir the presidency.

Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a subordinate of Niger’s Bureau of the Consultative Council and a lawman successful the Alliance of Sahel States parliament, said the attackers had targeted Base 101 but that information forces had regained control.

He wrote connected Facebook: “Another cowardly onslaught connected Base 101 and erstwhile again our defence and information forces ensured concern nether control.”

A Niger...