BAMAKO: Unknown assailants attacked and withdrew inside a UN police base in the Malian city of Timbuktu on Friday morning, the United Nations said, while security sources said a Malian army checkpoint in the city had also come under fire.
The attackers drove up to the entrance of the UN base in the former Hotel Palmeraie at around 6:30 a.m.(0630 GMT) and then detonated their vehicle, said Olivier Salgado, spokesman for the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, MINUSMA.
"An unknown number of assailants have withdrawn inside the camp.
An operation is currently under way with Malian and MINUSMA forces," he said, adding that an injured police officer had been evacuated.
A military source in Timbuktu said the site, near the entrance to the city, had been taken over exclusively by a Nigerian police contingent, and there were no other residents as the hotel was no longer operational.
He could not say whether there were any UN personnel inside the site with the attackers.
-
Iran conflict sparks rising diesel costs, straining US school budgets -
Savannah Guthrie mother Nancy kidnapping case: Shocking claim sparks reactions -
American doctor, affected by Hondius ship Hantavirus breaks his silence -
Israel confirms death of Hamas military leader Izz ad-Din al-Haddad -
Southern California on alert: High winds trigger wildfire and dangerous seas -
President Putin to visit China on May 19–20 after Trump’s trip, drawing global attention -
Belfast’s green push grows with 300,000 trees, new community orchards -
Tragedy in Western Australia: Man dies after shark bite off the coast of Perth
-
President Donald Trump under fire after admitting ‘America is nation in decline’ -
U.S. President Donald Trump reveals what happened to Abu-Bilal al-Minuki
-
Why Trump wants chipmakers to move manufacturing back to US after Xi summit
-
Canada to import Chinese EVs under new import rules despite concerns from Canadian automakers
