Heavy gunfire rocks Niger capital, TV station goes off air

Heavy gunfire and explosions were heard overnight into Saturday morning in Niger's capital, Niamey. The gunfire was reported near the main airport, which hosts a major military base and has been attacked twice this year by jihadists, and in an area housing the presidential palace.

The national TV station went off air on Saturday. According to the Associated Press, sustained gunfire began past midnight at the premises of the Diori Hamani International Airport. Local media also reported gunshots ringing out from the Plateau administrative district, where the Presidential Palace and key institutions are located.

The ruling military council, known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, said the military has been deployed. A local lawmaker described the incident as a "cowardly attack." The attack, which observers said lasted for about two hours, targeted the airport and security perimeter near the presidency.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Punch Nigeria, Associated Press, Premium Times, Winnipeg Free Press — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.