- Title: Gunmen attack police base in Abidjan, Ivory Coast - defence minister
- Date: 20th July 2017
- Summary: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST (JULY 20, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF BULLETS ON THE GROUND AT POLICE ACADEMY BASE POLICEMEN FROM CCDO (COORDINATION AND OPERATIONAL DECISIONS CENTRE) STANDING AND HOLDING WEAPONS VARIOUS OF IVORY COAST, DEFENCE MINISTER, HAMED BAKAYOKO, WALKING INTO POLICE ACADEMY BASE (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST DEFENCE MINISTER, HAMED BAKAYOKO, SAYING: "Last night, the police academy that houses a detachment of the CCDO (Coordination and Operational Decisions Centre) was attacked by armed men, visibly with the goal of taking weapons. And there was a reaction from our forces and we found their vehicle in Yopougon. There was an engagement between our forces and these people, and we found weaponry that was taken here (at the police academy), and the authorities are checking to see if there is any missing weaponry." POLICE PICK-UP TRUCKS DRIVING PAST POLICE ACADEMY BUILDING SIGN READING: "CCDO" POLICEMEN STANDING OUTSIDE BASE (SOUNDBITE) (French) IVORY COAST DEFENCE MINISTER, HAMED BAKAYOKO, SAYING: "They are saboteurs, people who carry out sporadic operations and give a sense of insecurity in order to sabotage the work of the government, and so on. So I think things are in order. They are not able to hold a position for long." POLICEMEN STANDING BAKAYOKO SHAKING HANDS WITH POLICE OFFICERS BEFORE GETTING INTO CAR FLAG FLUTTERING, READING (French): "Ivory Coast, Abidjan 2017, 8th Francophone Games" CARS DRIVING ALONG ROAD WOMAN CROSSING ROAD PEOPLE STANDING IN THE STREET VARIOUS OF SKYLINE OF CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT
- Embargoed: 3rd August 2017 12:54
- Keywords: Abidjan Ivory Coast Defence Minister Hamed Bakayoko President Alassane Ouattara gunfire exchange armed uprising shooting breaks out
- Location: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
- City: ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST
- Country: Ivory Coast
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0016QITQ9Z
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Gunmen attacked the base of an elite security unit in Ivory Coast's main city Abidjan and stole stocks of weapons, the defence minister said on Thursday (July 20).
The shooting broke out late night on Wednesday at around 9.30 p.m. (2130 GMT), at the national police academy in Abidjan, and lasted for around an hour, according to one Reuters witness.
Defence Minister Hamed Bakayoko visited the base early on Thursday and said security forces had clashed with the attackers, who then fled with stolen weapons.
The raid took place just hours after a reshuffle of key security posts in the government.
Bakayoko, who had previously served as the minister of the interior, was appointed defence minister. The move was part of a government shake-up seen as an attempt to end successive waves of armed uprisings by members of the security forces demanding bonus payments.
From Friday, Abidjan will host the Jeux de la Francophonie, a 10-day sporting and cultural event expected to see the participation of around 3,000 athletes and artists from around the French-speaking world. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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