Gunfire and explosions heard at Niger capital's airport

Niger has been fighting a militant Islamist insurgency for a decade and in January suspected jihadists attacked the same airport. Niger airport attack: Gunfire and explosions heard in Niamey Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. The sound of gunfire came from Niamey's airport, which was attacked in January (file photo) A picture taken on February 24, 2016 shows the entrance of Diori Hamani International airport of Niamey, with a black car in the foregrouns Gunfire and explosions heard at Niger capital's airport Explosions and gunfire were heard early on Thursday at the airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, residents have told the BBC. "I heard the first gunshots at 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT) while I was at the mosque. But the current situation is under control," one person said. The gunfire, which lasted for two hours, came from the entrance at the Diori Hamani international airport, a witness told the AFP news agency. Niger has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for a decade and in January suspected jihadists launched an attack on the same airport. Like its neighbours, Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger is run by a military junta that came to power in part because of a failure to deal with the violence. Niger has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for a decade and in January suspected jihadists launched an attack on the same airport . Like its neighbours, Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger is run by a military junta that came to power in part because of a failure to deal with the violence. Residents have told the BBC that Thursday's attack was repelled by the army, which is now hunting down the fleeing assailants who reportedly abandoned their weapons. The authorities have not yet commented and no group has said it was responsible but an affiliate to the Islamic State group said it had carried out January's assault. Niger's defence ministry said that in January's attack, four military personnel were injured and 20 attackers killed. At the time, the head of Niger's military government, which has been in power for three years, thanked Russia for its help in foiling the attack. Abdourahamane Tiani also accused the presidents of France, Benin and Ivory Coast of backing those responsible. He did not give details of what help Russia had provided, or provide any evidence to support his accusations against the other countries. In recent weeks, authorities in Niger have demolished neighbourhoods near the airport, citing "terrorist risks". They have also extended the airport's perimeter fence and installed more than 350 surveillance cameras, AFP reports. JNIM fighters train in an undisclosed location in West Africa's Sahel region. How an al-Qaeda offshoot became one of Africa's deadliest militant groups A line of large Malian fuel tankers stretches along a dusty road at dawn or dusk, their headlights and a streetlamp glowing through a hazy sky. A man walks beside the first yellow truck, holding on to its door as the convoy waits. Niger revokes licences of tanker drivers who refuse to go to Mali amid jihadist blockade Protesters display Russia's and Niger's flags as they sit on top of a vehicle amid a demonstration. Russia outsmarts France with nuclear power move in Niger Flanked by troops, Niger's coup leader Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani (C) greets the thousands of people at a stadium in Niamey on 26 July 2023. They are all wearing camouflage. How a uranium mine became a pawn in the row between Niger and France A woman looking at her mobile phone and the graphic BBC News Africa Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Alvin Junior Mak explains the inspiration behind the stylish suits he designed for DR Congo's World Cup team. Uganda's military chief had boasted of "the hurt and pain" he would inflict on Erias Lukwago, who was arrested earlier this week. A cemetery at the epicentre of the outbreak is rapidly filling up, however large traditional funerals have been scrapped. Only two survived after trekking more than 50km (30 miles) across the desert to alert the authorities. Growing insecurity in the Sahel made 2025 one of the worst years on record for the abduction of foreigners in Africa. Insurgents have carried out a wave of drone strikes on military positions in the region. The US signals that restoring democracy is no longer a priority and it is ready to work with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger. Niger's defence ministry said four military personnel were injured and 20 attackers killed in the incident.