Government says those attempting to break into an armoury in the capital Freetown had been repelled

A military armoury in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown came under attack on Sunday, the government announced, as it imposed an immediate nationwide 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.

  • JJROKCZ@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    1 year ago

    It’s real tiring seeing all these political parties reusing to accept election results and stirring up anger in the populace that leads to attempted coups like this and January 6th in the us. I know it’s mostly the rise in fascism’s popularity but it feels like it’s everywhere. Really makes me worried we’ll see a copy of the events a century ago again but even more devastating

  • AutoTL;DR@lemmings.worldBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    This is the best summary I could come up with:

    A military armoury in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown came under attack on Sunday, the government announced, as it imposed an immediate nationwide curfew.

    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.

    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.

    The president of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, also offered assurances that calm had been returned to the capital, urging people to stay indoors.

    “As the combined team of our security forces continue to root out the remnant of the fleeing renegades, a nationwide curfew has been declared and citizens are encouraged to stay indoors.”

    The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party disputed the results of the presidential, legislative and local elections on 24 June and has boycotted all levels of government.

    The original article contains 527 words, the summary contains 158 words. Saved 70%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!