Tension gripped Niger’s capital, Niamey, early Thursday after explosions and prolonged gunfire were reported around the city’s airport, prompting a swift security response.
The first explosions occurred at about 6 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), and sporadic gunfire was still audible nearly two hours later, the Reuters witness said.
A security source said it appeared that the airport was under attack.
A Nigerien government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
An affiliate of the Islamic State group in the region claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport in January.
Niger, like its Sahel neighbours, 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 three countries.
