Car bomb attacks in Niger target French uranium mine, army barracks

NIAMEY, Niger – Attackers in Niger detonated two car bombs, one in the city of Agadez where a military barracks was targeted and one in Arlit where a French company operates a uranium mine, injuring more than a dozen people.

Paris-based Areva said in a statement that 13 employees were hurt in the attack in Arlit, in the northern part of Niger where armed Islamic extremists have carried out attacks.

Witnesses said the vehicle carrying the explosives in Agadez blew up in front of the military barracks.

“We heard a strong detonation that woke the whole neighbourhood, it was so powerful,” said Abdoulaye Harouna, a resident of Agadez. “The whole town is now surrounded by soldiers looking for the attackers.”