Togo security forces simulate 'extremist' attack - in pictures

Police disguised themselves as militants in mock hostage situation

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  Togo's security forces on Thursday carried out a simulated terrorist attack in the capital, Lome, training personnel to counter a hostage-taking. All photos: AFP

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  A Togolese policeman, disguised as a terrorist, brandishes his weapon on October 20, 2022 during an anti-terrorism exercise at the Peacekeeping Operations Training Center (CEOMP). - Togo's military on Thursday carried out a simulated jihadist attack in the capital Lome on Thursday, practising countering an assault and hostage-taking at a restaurant. Togo and neighbouring West African coastal states like Ghana and Benin are preparing for growing spillover from jihadist conflicts across their northern borders in Niger and Burkina Faso (Photo by Yanick Folly / AFP)

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  In Thursday's exercises, a restaurant called Noudoudou-a-gnon in Lome's Adidogome district was attacked by cadre of police disguised as heavily armed militants who took 'hostages'.

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  It was the first anti-terrorist exercise in Togo after attacks began in November 2021.

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  Togo's Security Minister General Damehame Yark said the exercise was part of "measures so that we can face this threat".

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  The exercise is part of a training course in specialised intervention techniques. It involved a gendarme drone unit to help 'neutralise' the terrorists and free hostages.

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  Togo was hit in mid-July by an attack that left dead and a wounded. No group has claimed responsibility.

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  The government last month extended a state of emergency for six months in its northern Savanes region.

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  The first extremist attack in Togo was in May 2022, authorities said.

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  In neighbouring Benin, the first known fatal attack was last December, when two soldiers were killed near the border with Burkina Faso.

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  In Ivory Coast, four members of the security forces died in 2021, after 14 in 2020.

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