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Gunmen open fire on prison in Niger's capital Suspected Islamist militants attack Niger prison
(35 minutes later)
Gunmen have attacked a prison in the centre of Niger's capital, Niamey, officials and witnesses say. Gunmen have attacked the main prison in Niger's capital, Niamey, killing at least four people, officials say.
Justice Minister Marou Amadou told the AFP news agency that at least two guards had been killed. They are thought to be members of the Islamist militant group, Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao).
Some of the gunmen are reported to have entered the prison, which has been surrounded by the security forces. Some of them are reported to have entered the prison, which has been surrounded by security forces.
The attack comes days after suicide bombings at a military base in Agadez and a French-operated uranium mine at Arlit killed more than 20 people. The attack comes days after Mujao said it was behind suicide bombings at a military base and a French-operated uranium mine which killed 25 people.
The al-Qaeda-affiliated Signed-in-Blood Battalion said its leader, Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, had masterminded the assaults. Another group affiliated with al-Qaeda, the Signed-in-Blood Battalion of Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar, later claimed that the assaults in Agadez and Arlit had been joint operations with Mujao.
They were carried out in co-ordination with another group, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao), the group claimed. It also said the attacks were retaliation for Niger's role in the French-led military offensive which drove Mujao and two other Islamist groups out of northern Mali earlier this year.
Sudanese prisoner
Residents said the gunmen launched the attack on the prison in Niamey at around 15:00 local time on Saturday.
"We were sitting there when we saw these armed men start to shoot at the guards... I saw several of them fall and not get back up," Ila Yaye, who lives near the prison, told the Reuters news agency.
Officials told the BBC that the incident started when a prisoner grabbed a gun from a guard, and shot dead three guards and a civilian. The prisoner is said to be a Sudanese member of Mujao.
Members of the group stationed outside the prison then opened fire. Some of them are reported to have entered the building.
Nigerien gendarmes are reported to have later arrived at the prison to help the guards, who remained under fire for around 45 minutes.
Police meanwhile blocked off roads leading to the prison, allowing only ambulances to pass. Many residents fled the area on foot.
State security agent Souleymane Magagi, who was nearby when the incident occurred, said several members of the Nigerian militant Islamist group, Boko Haram, were also currently being held at the prison.