A military armoury in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown came under attack on Sunday, the government announced, as it imposed an immediate national curfew.
The government said those attempting to break into the armoury at a major army barracks had been repelled, but the public were asked to stay at home.
Witnesses told AFP they heard gunshots and explosions in the city’s Wilberforce district, where the armoury is located as well as a number of embassies.
Other witnesses said they heard exchanges of fire near a barracks in Murray Town district, home to the navy, as well as outside another military site in Freetown.
Automatic weapons fire and explosions could be heard on soundtracks posted on social networks.
The streets of the capital were empty, the witnesses said.
“The public is assured that the government and our state security forces are in control,” Information Minister Chernor Bah wrote in a “public notice”.
“To enable the security forces to continue the process of apprehending the suspects, a nationwide curfew is declared with immediate effect across the country,” the minister said.
No details were given on the alleged perpetrators of the attack, or their motives.
Sierra Leone, an English-speaking country in West Africa, has been going through a political crisis following presidential and general elections in June this year.
AFP
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