Explosions and Heavy Gunfire Reported at Airport in Niger’s Capital

Explosions and sustained gunfire lasting more than an hour were heard early Thursday at the airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, as security forces sealed off the area, according to a Reuters witness and two residents.

The first blasts were heard at around 6 a.m. local time, with sporadic gunfire still audible nearly two hours later, the Reuters witness said.

A security source said the airport appeared to be under attack.

A Niger government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

An Islamic State affiliate active in the region claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport in January, but it was not immediately clear who was behind Thursday’s assault.

Following the January attack, authorities demolished thousands of illegally built homes in a sprawling neighborhood near the airport, saying the area had been infiltrated by jihadists who helped carry out the assault.

Niger, along with neighboring Sahel countries Mali and Burkina Faso, has struggled to contain attacks by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State, which have killed thousands of people and displaced millions across the region.

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