Niamey Prison Attacked by 'Armed Group'

An armed group attacked the main prison in the Niger capital Niamey on Saturday, killing at least two guards, Justice Minister Marou Amadou said, less than a week after twin suicide bombings claimed 20 lives in the west African country.

"The civilian prison of Niamey was attacked. We have confirmation of the death of two guards," Amadou told Agence France Presse, adding that the attack was carried out by "an armed group that we have yet been unable to identify".

Amadou, who is also the government spokesman, could not elaborate on the situation on the ground.

A resident in the district reported shooting from the prison from early afternoon. "Everyone has locked themselves in," he said.

It was unclear whether Saturday's attack was linked to twin suicide bombings on May 23, the first such attacks in Niger's history.

An attack on the Agadez army base left 18 soldiers and one civilian dead, while a near-simultaneous bombing at French group Areva's uranium mine killed one and injured 14.

Two jihadist groups -- Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and Signatories in Blood -- claimed the attacks, saying they were in retaliation for Niger's intervention in neighboring Mali.