Agadez and Arlit attacks

{{Infobox civilian attack

|title=Agadez and Arlit attacks

|partof=spillover of the Northern Mali conflict

|image=

|fatalities = 36

|injuries = ~ 30

|type= Terrorist attack

|perps={{flagicon image|ShababFlag.svg}} MUJAO

Signatories in Blood

|target=A Niger Army base in Agadez; A French operated uranium mine in Arlit.

|numparts=

|dfens=

|date= 23 May 2013

|location=Agadez and Arlit, Niger

}}{{Campaignbox Jihadist insurgency in Niger}}On 23 May 2013, two coordinated attacks perpetrated by Islamist affiliates targeted the two Niger towns of Agadez and Arlit, the first 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, 23 soldiers and a civilian were confirmed dead by the next day. The second attack by two suicide bombers also claimed a worker at the mine.{{cite web|url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20130523.OBS0368/niger-deux-attaques-suicides-dont-une-sur-un-site-d-areva.html|title=NIGER. Double attentat : 24 morts, un terroriste retranché|date=23 May 2013|work=nouvelobs.com|accessdate=6 October 2014}} The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) later claimed responsibility, saying "We attacked 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 the Northern Mali conflict. Reports suggested Islamist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar of being the "mastermind" of both attacks, supervised by his brigade the "Signatories of Blood". These were the first such attacks within the country in Niger's history.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22654584|title=BBC News - Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'masterminded' Niger suicide bombs|work=BBC News|date=24 May 2013 |accessdate=6 October 2014}}

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 en route to the barracks drove through the base's barricades and exploded inside the barracks, killing several soldiers. This car bomb was then followed by a twin vehicle that entered the base while opening fire on soldiers.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-22637084|title=BBC News - Niger suicide bombers target Areva mine and barracks|work=BBC News|date=23 May 2013 |accessdate=6 October 2014}} A lengthy gun battle followed as Islamists took hold of the barracks dormitory and an office. In a matter of hours the fight spread throughout the base and into the streets where a civilian was killed in the cross-fire. By late afternoon, extremist elements took refuge in the barracks' dormitory, taking five soldiers hostage.{{cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20130524-niger-armee-francaise-aide-neutralisation-derniers-jihadistes-agadez|title=Niger: l'armée française a aidé à la neutralisation des derniers jihadistes à Agadez|date=24 May 2013|work=RFI|accessdate=6 October 2014}} The hostage-takers threatened to blow themselves up with explosives but negotiated with the army. By the next morning, three of the hostages had been killed before Niger troops, with help from French special forces based in Mali, raided the building, killing two of the extremists and capturing one. The two surviving hostages were 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 attacker being taken alive.{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20130524-islamist-groups-claim-mujao-belmoktar-attacks-niger|title=Africa - Islamist groups claim twin attacks on Niger targets|work=France 24|date=24 May 2013 |accessdate=6 October 2014}}

Arlit attack

A few minutes following the Agadez attack, two suicide bombers disguised in military fatigues drove their car into an Areva uranium mine in Arlit, the largest such mine in the country, operated by a French company. The car exploded in front of a pick-up bus carrying workers to the facility. Besides the two suicide bombers, one worker was killed and sixteen others were injured. The plant was forced to shut down from the damage caused by the blast.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-niger-attacks-idUSBRE94M14W20130523|title=Islamists kill 21 in suicide attacks in Niger|work=Reuters|accessdate=6 October 2014}} The main target was said to be French officials operating at the plant.{{cite web|url=http://www.europe1.fr/International/Niger-nos-forces-speciales-sont-intervenues-1527857/|title=Niger : nos forces spéciales sont intervenues|date=24 May 2013 |publisher=Europe1.fr|accessdate=6 October 2014}}