Minister of Defence: Shooting breaks out near gendarmerie base in Niger

NIAMEY, Niger – Niger’s minister of defence has confirmed that shooting has broken out near a college for the country’s paramilitary police in Niamey.

Karidjo Mahamadou said by telephone that the shooting erupted Tuesday night near the Ecole de Gendarmerie, or police college, located in a northern suburb of the city. He said the shooters had not been identified, and declined to give any further details.

Niger is still reeling from back-to-back terrorist attacks, including the largest in its history on May 23, when suicide bombers attacked a military base and a French-run uranium mine in towns that were over a 100 miles (160 kilometres) apart, killing three dozen people. Then on June 1, suspected jihadists attacked the prison in Niamey, in a jail break that freed 22 prisoners, including a member of al-Qaida’s North African branch.