This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22637084
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Niger bombs target Areva mine and military camp | Niger bombs target Areva mine and military camp |
(34 minutes later) | |
Two bombs have exploded at a military camp and a French-run uranium mine in two towns in north western Niger, officials say. | Two bombs have exploded at a military camp and a French-run uranium mine in two towns in north western Niger, officials say. |
The bombers died and a number of other people were wounded in the attacks in the towns of Agadez and Arlit, Reuters reported. | |
French group Areva said 13 people at its Somair plant in Arlit were hurt. | French group Areva said 13 people at its Somair plant in Arlit were hurt. |
Niger's government blamed Mujao, a jihadist group from neighbouring Mali, French radio said. | Niger's government blamed Mujao, a jihadist group from neighbouring Mali, French radio said. |
Kidnapped | Kidnapped |
"A man in military uniform driving a 4x4 packed with explosives mixed in with the Somair workers and blew up his vehicle in front of the power station at the uranium treatment facility," a mine employee told AFP news agency. | |
"Company managers told us the suicide bomber was killed in the explosion." | |
Security was stepped up at Areva's Arlit operation - one of the country's biggest uranium mines - in February. Niger provides one-fifth of France's uranium needs, according to French media. | Security was stepped up at Areva's Arlit operation - one of the country's biggest uranium mines - in February. Niger provides one-fifth of France's uranium needs, according to French media. |
Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou said French special forces had moved in to protect the site after dozens of hostages died when Islamist militants seized a gas plant in Algeria in January. | Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou said French special forces had moved in to protect the site after dozens of hostages died when Islamist militants seized a gas plant in Algeria in January. |
Five French workers were kidnapped from the Arlit mine by Islamist militants in 2010. | Five French workers were kidnapped from the Arlit mine by Islamist militants in 2010. |
Four of them are still being held and it is believed they could be in northern Mali, close to where French troops were sent to oust al-Qaeda-linked militants in January. | Four of them are still being held and it is believed they could be in northern Mali, close to where French troops were sent to oust al-Qaeda-linked militants in January. |
Nigerien Defence Minister Mahamadou Karidjo said a car bomb also exploded in front of a military base at Agadez on Thursday. | |
"We heard a strong detonation that woke the whole neighbourhood, it was so powerful," Abdoulaye Harouna, a resident of Agadez, told the Associated Press. | |
Mujao (the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa) is a splinter group of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operating mostly in northern Mali. | Mujao (the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa) is a splinter group of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) operating mostly in northern Mali. |
It says its objective is to spread jihad to West Africa rather than confine itself to the Sahel and Maghreb regions - the main focus of AQIM. | It says its objective is to spread jihad to West Africa rather than confine itself to the Sahel and Maghreb regions - the main focus of AQIM. |