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Charlie Hebdo: Niger protesters torched 45 churches - police | Charlie Hebdo: Niger protesters torched 45 churches - police |
(about 19 hours later) | |
At least 10 people have been killed and 45 churches set on fire since protests erupted in Niger over the French magazine Charlie Hebdo's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, police say. | At least 10 people have been killed and 45 churches set on fire since protests erupted in Niger over the French magazine Charlie Hebdo's depiction of the Prophet Muhammad, police say. |
The government has declared three days of mourning for those who died. | The government has declared three days of mourning for those who died. |
Hotels and bars were also burned to the ground during a weekend of violent protests, the authorities said. | Hotels and bars were also burned to the ground during a weekend of violent protests, the authorities said. |
Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at Charlie Hebdo's offices in an attack earlier this month. | Islamist gunmen killed 12 people at Charlie Hebdo's offices in an attack earlier this month. |
The cover of the magazine's latest edition, published after the attack, featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad weeping while holding a sign saying "I am Charlie". | The cover of the magazine's latest edition, published after the attack, featured a cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad weeping while holding a sign saying "I am Charlie". |
It led to criticism from many living in Muslim-majority countries who said the magazine's editors were being unnecessarily provocative. | It led to criticism from many living in Muslim-majority countries who said the magazine's editors were being unnecessarily provocative. |
Niger's interior minister said that some of those taking part in the weekend protests held up flags supporting Boko Haram, an Islamist group based in neighbouring Nigeria. | Niger's interior minister said that some of those taking part in the weekend protests held up flags supporting Boko Haram, an Islamist group based in neighbouring Nigeria. |
But the BBC's Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi in neighbouring Nigeria says political friction is also likely to have played a role in fanning the violence. | |
In the capital Niamey at least five people were killed during the clashes, while another five died in the southern city of Zinder. | In the capital Niamey at least five people were killed during the clashes, while another five died in the southern city of Zinder. |
More than 170 people were injured, officials said. | More than 170 people were injured, officials said. |
Analysis: Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi, BBC Africa, Nigeria | |
Niger's population is 99% Muslim, so it wasn't a surprise that there was a reaction to Charlie Hebdo's caricature. | Niger's population is 99% Muslim, so it wasn't a surprise that there was a reaction to Charlie Hebdo's caricature. |
But what was surprising was the scale of the subsequent protests and violence. | But what was surprising was the scale of the subsequent protests and violence. |
Similar demonstrations in the past have been conducted peacefully, and even the authorities could not come up with an answer as to why the latest riots turned ugly. | Similar demonstrations in the past have been conducted peacefully, and even the authorities could not come up with an answer as to why the latest riots turned ugly. |
One school of thought is that protesters were angry about their president attending the solidarity march of world leaders in Paris after the attack on Charlie Hebdo's office. | One school of thought is that protesters were angry about their president attending the solidarity march of world leaders in Paris after the attack on Charlie Hebdo's office. |
A second theory is that the violence was fuelled as much by politics as religious grievance - an idea given credence by the fact that protests started in the opposition stronghold of Zinder. | A second theory is that the violence was fuelled as much by politics as religious grievance - an idea given credence by the fact that protests started in the opposition stronghold of Zinder. |
The last and the most complex theory relates to Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group from neighbouring Nigeria. | The last and the most complex theory relates to Boko Haram, the Islamist militant group from neighbouring Nigeria. |
Officials are reportedly investigating whether the group were involved in stoking the protests - they say a Boko Haram flag was seen - though whether the government is merely exploiting the group to gain outside sympathy remains to be seen. | Officials are reportedly investigating whether the group were involved in stoking the protests - they say a Boko Haram flag was seen - though whether the government is merely exploiting the group to gain outside sympathy remains to be seen. |
According to a police spokesman, a Christian school and orphanage were torched during the riots. | According to a police spokesman, a Christian school and orphanage were torched during the riots. |
Niger's President, Mahamadou Issoufou, was one of six African heads of state to attend a unity march in Paris after the attacks against Charlie Hebdo. | Niger's President, Mahamadou Issoufou, was one of six African heads of state to attend a unity march in Paris after the attacks against Charlie Hebdo. |
Protests against the Charlie Hebdo cartoon were also seen in several other countries. | Protests against the Charlie Hebdo cartoon were also seen in several other countries. |
Friday demonstrations in the Pakistani city of Karachi eventually turned violent, while protesters took to the streets in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and the Algerian capital, Algiers. | Friday demonstrations in the Pakistani city of Karachi eventually turned violent, while protesters took to the streets in the Sudanese capital of Khartoum and the Algerian capital, Algiers. |
On Saturday there were further protests in Somalia. | On Saturday there were further protests in Somalia. |