Sierra Leone president declares curfew

FREETOWN, SIERRA LEONE — Sierra Leone’s president declared a nationwide curfew Sunday after gunmen attacked the military’s main and largest barracks in the West African nation’s capital and then overran detention centers, including a major prison.

The attack raised fears of a breakdown of order amid a surge of coups in the region.

The detention centers, including the Pademba Road Prisons — holding more than 2,000 inmates — were attacked just as security forces fought to restore calm during sustained shootouts at the Wilberforce military barracks, according to Information Minister Chernor Bah.

“The prisons were overrun (and) some prisoners were abducted by the assailants while many others were released,” Bah said. Security forces managed to “push back” the assailants to the outskirts of the city where fighting continues, he added.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio earlier declared a nationwide curfew in response to the attacks.

An Associated Press journalist in the capital said that gunshots were still heard in the city hours after the government assured residents of calm, although it wasn’t clear who was behind the exchange of fire, nor if any arrests were made.

“The security forces are making progress in the operation to defeat and apprehend those responsible for today’s attacks,” Bah said.

AP Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio reacts with a curfew after gunmen attack the main military barracks and detention centers in the capital.