Thirty-five people have been killed after gunmen struck Niger’s largest airport on Thursday, the second attack in less than five months.
Residents in the predominately Muslim country said they had just finished their morning prayers when explosions and gunshot sounds rang out from Diori Hamani international airport, located in the capital, Niamey.
Niger’s defence ministry said the fatalities comprised 22 assailants, 11 soldiers, and two civilians.
On Thursday, al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin said it had carried out the attack.
Niger has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for a decade and in January, an organisation linked to the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for an attack on the same airport.
Thursday’s violence settled by mid-morning and security forces have since launched a manhunt for any remaining attackers.
Authorities said alongside the 22 attackers that were killed, another four were wounded. They added that 20 suspects had been arrested.
A large cache of weapons including RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, explosives, grenades, communications equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition were also reportedly seized.
The airport vicinity had been locked down on Thursday afternoon, with security forces searching vehicles entering and leaving the area.
*Courtesy: ITV news
