Suicide bomber in Niger kills at least 7 people

DAKAR, Senegal — A suspected Islamic extremist in southeastern Niger detonated his explosives when confronted by a policeman Sunday morning, killing the officer and at least six civilians in a town targeted numerous times by jihadists this year.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility though suspicion fell upon Boko Haram, the Nigeria-based extremist group that has pledged allegiance to the Islamic State and carried out scores of attacks in neighboring Niger, Cameroon and Chad in recent months.

Aboubacar Halilou said Sunday that he was coming out his house in the town of Diffa around 8 a.m. when he saw four young men walk past.

"They had their hands on their stomachs, walking in the rain in the direction of the police station," Halilou told The Associated Press. "A police officer tried to approach these young men before they arrived at the station but when he came closer one of the men detonated his explosives." The policeman was killed, said Halilou.

"The three others started to flee, and another officer who was there shot and killed one of them at the scene. The two others ran in an effort to reach town. There was a real chase but the officers finally caught them," he said.

At least six civilians were killed and more than 11 others were wounded, according to an emergency room nurse who spoke on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

Upcoming Events