20 killed, 11 arrested in attack on Niamey airport

NIAMEY, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- Niger's Defense and Security Forces (FDS) on Thursday neutralized at least 20 mercenaries and arrested 11 others in response to an attack on Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport.

In an announcement, Niger's Ministry of National Defense said the FDS also recovered a significant cache of war materials and several motorcycles used by the attackers.

According to the ministry, the attack occurred on the night from Wednesday to Thursday, when a group of mercenaries, on a remotely directed mission, targeted Air Base 101, near the airport.

The attackers, traveling on motorcycles with their headlights off, were repelled after a 30-minute assault, it said, adding that most of the arrestees were seriously wounded.

While the attack was thwarted, "four soldiers were wounded and equipment was damaged, including a stockpile of ammunition that caught fire," said the ministry.

Before fleeing, the mercenaries also fired at three civilian aircraft, including two belonging to the airline Asky.