Mali’s military said Tuesday that the situation was “under control” after what it called a foiled attempt by “terrorists” to infiltrate a military police base in the capital, Bamako, where attacks are rare.
“Early this morning, a group of terrorists tried to infiltrate the Faladie Military Police School,” the army announced on social media.
– The situation is under control – it was also announced in the news on radio and television.
The Ministry of Security spoke of “terrorist attacks” on “sensitive points of the capital”, including the military police school.
Mali’s military-led authorities generally use the term “terrorists” to describe jihadists and separatists in the country’s north.
Search operations are ongoing, the military said, urging people to remain calm and avoid the area.
Two members of the military police were wounded, they and their families told AFP.
Bamako is otherwise spared from the attacks that happen in some parts of the West African country almost every day.
But the city awoke on Tuesday to the sound of gunfire and explosions, an AFP correspondent reported.
Sporadic gunshots still rang out at the beginning of the morning.
– This morning armed men attacked at least one military police base in Bamako. They have not been officially identified – a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
Black smoke could be seen rising from the area near the airport.
– Bamako airport is temporarily closed due to the event – the official airport announced, without specifying how long the closure will last.
