Niamey, June 19, (dpa/GNA) – Heavily armed attackers, stormed the international airport in Niger’s capital early on Thursday, triggering a gun battle that left dozens dead, the country’s defence minister said.
The assailants entered the airport in Niamey before dawn, opened fire and detonated explosives, Defence Minister Salifou Modi said.
Security forces regained control of the area around Diori Hamani International Airport, after about an hour, he said. Eleven members of the security forces, two civilians and 22 attackers were killed in the fighting, according to Modi.
More than 20 additional suspects were arrested. The minister did not identify the perpetrators. The attack was the second on the airport this year.
In late January, an affiliate of the Islamic State group in the Sahel region, attacked the airport and the adjacent air force base, which until 2024 also hosted foreign troops.
GNA