The death toll from a brazen armed assault on Niger’s largest airport has risen to 35, with British counter-terror teams now scrambling to assess the threat to UK nationals in the region. The attack, which targeted Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, involved a coordinated assault by gunmen who opened fire on passengers and staff before being repelled by security forces. Among the dead are believed to be several foreign nationals, though the Foreign Office has declined to confirm any British casualties.
The assault unfolded shortly before dawn on Wednesday, when heavily armed men stormed the terminal building. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as gunfire echoed through the departure lounge. “It was like a war zone,” said one airport worker. “People were screaming, diving behind chairs. The attackers didn’t seem to care who they shot.”
Niger has been a focal point of jihadist insurgency in the Sahel region, with attacks increasingly targeting infrastructure and civilian hubs. The airport, a key transit point for humanitarian aid and military operations, had been under heightened security. Yet this assault, which involved multiple entry points, suggests a level of planning that has alarmed Western intelligence agencies.
British counter-terror teams have been deployed to the region as a precaution, with sources confirming they are working alongside local authorities to identify any UK nationals affected. The Foreign Office has updated its travel advice, urging all British citizens in Niger to remain indoors and await further instructions. “We are doing everything we can to support British nationals,” a spokesperson said. “This is a fast-moving situation, and we advise against all but essential travel to Niger.”
For families back in Britain, the attack is a stark reminder of the risks faced by UK nationals working or living in conflict zones. Many Britons in Niger are involved in aid work, mining, or diplomatic missions. The attack’s timing, just days after a similar assault on a military base in neighbouring Mali, has raised fears of a coordinated campaign against Western targets.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer condemned the “cowardly act of terrorism” and pledged to bring those responsible to justice. “Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones,” he said. “The UK will not be cowed by such brutality.”
But for the families of the missing, official condolences ring hollow. Jane Miller, whose son works for an NGO in Niamey, has not heard from him since the attack. “I’m just sitting by the phone, waiting,” she said. “You never think it’s going to happen to you.”
The assault comes amid a broader deterioration of security in the Sahel, where jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State have gained ground. Niger’s government, already struggling to contain the insurgency, now faces the challenge of securing its airports and other soft targets. The attack is likely to accelerate calls for a more robust international response, though whether that means increased military aid or diplomatic pressure remains to be seen.
For now, the focus is on the human cost. Thirty-five lives cut short in a hail of bullets. Scores more wounded. And a continent left grappling with the reality that no place is safe anymore.
