Agadez and Arlit attacks: Difference between revisions
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On 23 May 2013, two coordinated attacks perpetrated by Islamists affiliates targeted the two Niger towns of Agadez and Arlit. One being a military base the other a French-owned and operated uranium mine. In the first attack on the Niger military base in which eight attackers participated in, 23 soldiers are confirmed dead by the next day plus a civilian. The second attack claimed a worker at the mine, in which two attackers dubbed.<ref>http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130523.OBS0368/niger-deux-attaques-suicides-dont-une-sur-un-site-d-areva.html</ref> MUJAO later claimed responsibility saying:"We attacked France and Niger for its cooperation with France in the war against sharia (Islamic law)". They also promised more attacks to come in retaliation for Niger's involvement in Northern Mali. Reports suggest Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar of being the "mastermind" of both attacks supervised by his brigade the "Signatories of Blood". These were the first such of attacks in the country of Niger's history.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22654584</ref> |
On 23 May 2013, two coordinated attacks perpetrated by Islamists affiliates targeted the two Niger towns of Agadez and Arlit. One being a military base the other a French-owned and operated uranium mine. In the first attack on the Niger military base in which eight attackers participated in, 23 soldiers are confirmed dead by the next day plus a civilian. The second attack claimed a worker at the mine, in which two attackers dubbed.<ref>http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130523.OBS0368/niger-deux-attaques-suicides-dont-une-sur-un-site-d-areva.html</ref> MUJAO later claimed responsibility saying:"We attacked France and Niger for its cooperation with France in the war against sharia (Islamic law)". They also promised more attacks to come in retaliation for Niger's involvement in Northern Mali. Reports suggest Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar of being the "mastermind" of both attacks supervised by his brigade the "Signatories of Blood". These were the first such of attacks in the country of Niger's history.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22654584</ref> |
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==Agadez |
==Agadez Attack== |
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At 5:30 local time, during morning prayers the first of the two suicide attacks hit Agadez a city situated in northern Niger when a group of eight extremists attacked the local army barracks. A suicide car bomber on route to the barracks drive's through the bases barricades exploding inside the barracks, killing several soldiers. This car bomb is then followed by a twin vehicle that enters the base opening fire on soldiers.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22637084</ref> A lengthy gun battle follows as Islamists take hold of the barracks dormitory and an office. In a matter of hours the fight spreads throughout the base into the streets where a civilian is killed in the cross-fire. By the late-afternoon, extremists elements take refuge in the barracks' dormitory taking five soldiers hostage.<ref>http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130524-niger-armee-francaise-aide-neutralisation-derniers-jihadistes-agadez</ref> The hostage takers threaten to blow themselves up with explosives, but negotiate with the army. By the next morning, three of the hostages are killed before Niger troops with help from French special forces based in Mali, raid the building killing two of the extremists, and capturing one. The two surviving hostages are freed. According to the Niger army, 23 soldiers were killed in the Agadez base attack plus a foreign-training Cameroonian soldier. In addition all eight of the attackers were confirmed killed, rumors spread about a ninth being taken alive.<ref>http://www.france24.com/en/20130524-islamist-groups-claim-mujao-belmoktar-attacks-niger</ref> |
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At 5:30 A.M local time, during morning prayers the first of the two suicide attacks perorated by MOJWA affiliates hit Agadez a city situated in northern Niger. |
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==Arlit Attack== |
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The attack began with a column of three cars both filled with militants. The first of the cars, driven by two passengers, and the one filled with explosives drives threw the military installations and barricades defending the base and explodes somewhere in between killing and critically wounding several soldiers. The blast which sparked confusion was a diversion for two other cars filled with heavily armed militants to enter the base, opening fire on soldiers. The vehicles are abandoned and the attackers storm the base barracks and dormitory buildings. Seven soldiers are taken hostage as a result. Negotiations are presented by both sides giving time for French Special Forces based in Mali, along with Niger reinforcement troops to raid the building the next day where the hostages were being kept. Three of the hostages are killed, two are freed during the raid. All of the remaining attackers are killed, with one being taken alive. The attack was immediately claimed by MOJWA justified by attacking Niger in retaliation for its involvement in Mali. Niger Army casualties summed up to 23 dead, 16 wounded, and a Cameroonian advisor killed who was present during the attack. A civilian was also killed by the occasional stray bullet.<ref>http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22637084</ref><ref>http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130524-niger-armee-francaise-aide-neutralisation-derniers-jihadistes-agadez</ref><ref>http://www.france24.com/en/20130524-islamist-groups-claim-mujao-belmoktar-attacks-niger</ref> |
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| ⚫ | A few minutes following the Agadez attack, two suicide bomber's disguised in military fatigues drove their car into an Areva uranium mine in Arlit, the largest in the country operated by a French company. The car explodes in front of a pick-up bus carrying workers to the facility. Besides the two suicide bombers, a worker is killed and sixteen others injured. The plant was forced to shut down from damage caused by the blast.<ref>http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/23/us-niger-attacks-idUSBRE94M14W20130523</ref> The main target was said to be French officials operating at the plant.<ref>http://www.europe1.fr/International/Niger-nos-forces-speciales-sont-intervenues-1527857/</ref> |
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| ⚫ | A few minutes |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 01:48, 5 April 2014
| Agadez and Arlit Attacks | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Northern Mali Conflict | |||||||
| File:AgadezMilitaryBase2013.jpg Agadez military base | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Niger France |
 MUJAO | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| unknown |
11 total
| ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
23 dead, 16 wounded 1 foreign soldier dead | 10 dead, 1 captured | ||||||
| 2 civilians dead, 14-50 wounded | |||||||
On 23 May 2013, two coordinated attacks perpetrated by Islamists affiliates targeted the two Niger towns of Agadez and Arlit. One being a military base the other a French-owned and operated uranium mine. In the first attack on the Niger military base in which eight attackers participated in, 23 soldiers are confirmed dead by the next day plus a civilian. The second attack claimed a worker at the mine, in which two attackers dubbed.[1] MUJAO later claimed responsibility saying:"We attacked France and Niger for its cooperation with France in the war against sharia (Islamic law)". They also promised more attacks to come in retaliation for Niger's involvement in Northern Mali. Reports suggest Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar of being the "mastermind" of both attacks supervised by his brigade the "Signatories of Blood". These were the first such of attacks in the country of Niger's history.[2]
Agadez Attack
At 5:30 local time, during morning prayers the first of the two suicide attacks hit Agadez a city situated in northern Niger when a group of eight extremists attacked the local army barracks. A suicide car bomber on route to the barracks drive's through the bases barricades exploding inside the barracks, killing several soldiers. This car bomb is then followed by a twin vehicle that enters the base opening fire on soldiers.[3] A lengthy gun battle follows as Islamists take hold of the barracks dormitory and an office. In a matter of hours the fight spreads throughout the base into the streets where a civilian is killed in the cross-fire. By the late-afternoon, extremists elements take refuge in the barracks' dormitory taking five soldiers hostage.[4] The hostage takers threaten to blow themselves up with explosives, but negotiate with the army. By the next morning, three of the hostages are killed before Niger troops with help from French special forces based in Mali, raid the building killing two of the extremists, and capturing one. The two surviving hostages are freed. According to the Niger army, 23 soldiers were killed in the Agadez base attack plus a foreign-training Cameroonian soldier. In addition all eight of the attackers were confirmed killed, rumors spread about a ninth being taken alive.[5]
Arlit Attack
A few minutes following the Agadez attack, two suicide bomber's disguised in military fatigues drove their car into an Areva uranium mine in Arlit, the largest in the country operated by a French company. The car explodes in front of a pick-up bus carrying workers to the facility. Besides the two suicide bombers, a worker is killed and sixteen others injured. The plant was forced to shut down from damage caused by the blast.[6] The main target was said to be French officials operating at the plant.[7]
References
- ^ http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130523.OBS0368/niger-deux-attaques-suicides-dont-une-sur-un-site-d-areva.html
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22654584
- ^ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22637084
- ^ http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130524-niger-armee-francaise-aide-neutralisation-derniers-jihadistes-agadez
- ^ http://www.france24.com/en/20130524-islamist-groups-claim-mujao-belmoktar-attacks-niger
- ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/23/us-niger-attacks-idUSBRE94M14W20130523
- ^ http://www.europe1.fr/International/Niger-nos-forces-speciales-sont-intervenues-1527857/