- Title: NIGER: Two dead, around 10 wounded in prison raid in Niger's capital
- Date: 1st June 2013
- Summary: NIAMEY, NIGER (JUNE 1, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AND POLICE CARS ON STREET LEADING TO PRISON ARMED POLICE ON STREET LEADING TO PRISON MORE OF MILITARY CROWDS WATCHING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (Haussa and French mix) KARIM HASSANE, EYE WITNESS FROM NEIGHBOURHOOD, SAYING: "I saw people running everywhere in all directions, and I was near the civilian prison, and saw three people shooting, two guards and a civilian. As I was going past I saw two young people being arrested." POLICE CAR DRIVING PAST CHANGE OF FORMAT TO 4:3 ++AUDIO AS INCOMING++ (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIAMEY CHIEF PROSECUTOR, WAZIR IBRAHIM, SAYING: "This afternoon, between 1500 and 1530, three prisoners already charged as conspirators relating to a terrorist charge and imprisoned at the Niamey civil prison have made a massive escape attempt. They were aggressive towards the guards and the guards responded to the situation, and the death toll was two guards killed." ENTRANCE TO PRISON AFTER ATTACK (SOUNDBITE) (French) NIAMEY CHIEF PROSECUTOR, WAZIR IBRAHIM, SAYING: "Thanks to the guards' quick reaction we were able to control the three assailants. The investigation was immediately transferred to the hands of the anti-terrorism service." VARIOUS OF PRISON AFTER ATTACK
- Embargoed: 16th June 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Niger
- Country: Niger
- Topics: Crime
- Reuters ID: LVAB4E7VXQVRPALN3MDZC0ATQ46D
- Story Text: Two prison guards were killed and three more were wounded in Niger's capital Niamey on Saturday (June 1) during what government officials said was a failed escape attempt by a group of inmates serving terms on terrorism charges.
The daytime gunbattle in the city centre comes just a week after al Qaeda-linked groups raided a uranium mine and an army barracks, raising fears that the conflict in neighbouring Mali could spread to other West African states.
Local residents said shooting began at around 3 p.m. (1500 GMT) near the entrance to the prison, which houses over 600 inmates including Nigerian Boko Haram insurgents and members of other armed Islamist groups.
"I saw people running everywhere in all directions, and I was near the civilian prison, and saw three people shooting, two guards and a civilian. As I was going past I saw two young people being arrested," said Karim Hassane, who lives near the prison.
A Reuters witness said gendarmes had rushed to the prison to reinforce guards who remained under fire for around 45 minutes. Local residents fled as police blocked off roads leading to the prison, allowing only ambulances into the area.
A police official earlier said 10 people were injured during the exchange of gunfire, and witnesses said a number of civilians had been lightly wounded.
The official said security forces were looking for part of the group believed to have fled aboard a truck. Other gunmen were thought to still be hiding out in houses near the prison.
"This afternoon, between 1500 and 1530, three prisoners already charged as conspirators relating to a terrorist charge and imprisoned at the Niamey civil prison have made a massive escape attempt. They were aggressive towards the guards and the guards responded to the situation, and the death toll was two guards killed," said Niamey chief prosecutor Wazir Ibrahim.
"Thanks to the guards' quick reaction we were able to control the three assailants. The investigation was immediately transferred to the hands of the anti-terrorism service," Ibrahim added.
A prison official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said guards planned to take a head count Sunday (June 2) morning to ensure that no other prisoners were missing. He said prison authorities believed it was too dangerous to carry out the count during the night. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
