At least 20 people have been killed and several injured when suicide bombers struck a military camp and a uranium mine in the West African country of Niger on Thursday, media reports said quoting the Defense Ministry.
Two explosives-laden cars were detonated almost simultaneously, one inside a military camp in the city of Agadez and another at a French-operated uranium mine in the remote town of Arlit.
A Mali-based Islamist group - Movement of Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) - has claimed responsibility for the attacks which it said was in revenge of Niger's involvement in a French-led military offensive in neighboring Mali, the Ministry said.
In Agadez, the militants struck a military garrison and managed to enter the base. Security forces flushed out the intruders after a fierce gun battle and restored calm by Thursday evening, the reports said citing Defense Minister Mahamadou Karidjo.
One employee was killed and 14 were injured when a car bomb struck the Somair uranium mine operated by the French nuclear giant Areva in Arlit. Crushing and grinding units of the mine were badly damaged in the explosion and uranium production stopped.
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