Gunmen attack airport in Niger's capital as explosions, gunfire heard

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Gunmen attacked the main airport in Niger’s capital of Niamey early Thursday morning, leading to an exchange of fire and explosions, witnesses and a security official said.Security forces were deployed to repel the attack after the gunmen breached the airport security, said the official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation. It was not immediately clear who the attackers were.Several hours after the attack, Niger's National Civil Aviation Agency said that activities at the airport were continuing as normal. The Nigerien government did not immediately release any statement about the events.An Associated Press journalist said soldiers were searching people on the road to the airport in the aftermath of the gunfire.It was the second attack at Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey this year, after the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a similar attack in January that targeted Niger's drone assets.Niger, led by a military jun