Gunmen Attack Niger's Biggest Airport, 35 Killed

Officials say gunmen attacked Niger’s largest airport on Thursday, leaving 35 people dead - the second attack in less than five months. 

People in the predominantly Muslim country told the BBC that they had just completed their morning prayers when they heard the sound of explosions and gunfire at Diori Hamani international airport in the capital, Niamey.

Among the dead were 22 assailants, 11 soldiers and two civilians, said Niger’s defence ministry.

The al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday evening.

The same airport was attacked in January, an assault that was claimed by an organization connected to the Islamic State group.

Niger has been battling an Islamist insurgency for 10 years.

The violence on Thursday settled by mid-morning with security forces launching a manhunt for the remaining attackers. 

A man named Lawalli Tsalha who lives near the airport told the BBC how the attack took place.

“We finished our prayer at about 05:50 (04:50 GMT) and shortly afterwards we heard a loud bang – like something had exploded, perhaps a tyre.

“It was only a little later that we realised what was happening.”

In addition to the 22 attackers killed, authorities said four others were injured. They added that twenty persons are under custody.

A large weapons cache allegedly included RPG-7 launchers, AK-47 rifles, explosives, grenades, communications equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition.