Armed clashes erupted in Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown on Sunday in what the government said was an attack on a military armoury, as it imposed an immediate national curfew.
Witnesses told AFP they heard gunshots and explosions in the city’s Wilberforce district, where the armoury is located along with 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.
Video posted on social networks showed groups of men on the streets who were described as escaped prisoners.
AFP could not confirm from the authorities that the prison gates had been opened.
Automatic weapons fire and explosions could be heard on soundtracks posted on social networks.
The streets of the capital were otherwise empty, the witnesses said.
“I was awakened by a loud sound of heavy machine gun (fire) and bombs coming from the Wilberforce barracks around 4:30 am,” witness Susan Kargbo told AFP by telephone.
“I was shocked and … the gunshots continued until this morning, it was like a war,” she said.
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.
“The public is assured that the government and our state security forces are in control,” Information Minister Chernor Bah wrote in a “public notice”.
Meanwhile, the Chairman planning committee for the event, Efe Oriero, said: “This is just to give small businesses opportunity to show case themselves.
“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.
