Niger airport attack leaves 35 dead

Gunmen attacked Niger’s main international airport in the capital, Niamey, early on Thursday, triggering an hours-long gun battle with security forces. Officials said 35 people were killed, including 22 attackers, 11 soldiers and two civilians.

The assault on Diori Hamani International Airport began around 6:00 a.m. local time, according to witnesses. Gunfire and explosions were heard for several hours before security forces repelled the attackers. About 20 suspects were arrested, and authorities recovered weapons from the scene.

No group has claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack. In January, the Islamic State in the Sahel claimed an assault on the same airport, which also hosts a military airbase. Nigerien forces, supported by Russian allies, repelled that attack, killing 20 assailants and wounding four soldiers.

Niger’s civil aviation agency said normal airport operations had resumed. Security forces continued clearance operations in the area.

The airport has been a focus of security concerns. In recent weeks, authorities demolished thousands of illegally built homes near the facility, citing terrorist risks. The airport perimeter fence has been extended, and more than 350 surveillance cameras have been installed.

Niger has been fighting a decade-long Islamist insurgency. The country is ruled by a military junta that seized power in 2023.

SOURCE: AA