Heavy gunfire heard in Guinea’s capital, Conakry 

Sustained gunshots have been heard near the central prison in Guinea’s capital, Conakry, according to reports by AFP and Reuters.

It was unclear who was shooting or what triggered the gunfire close to the presidential palace.

“I heard the sound of vehicles speeding by, I rushed to the window and heard automatic gunfire,” Thierno Balde, an accountant who works in the neighbourhood, told AFP confirming similar statements by other witnesses.

According to neighbours of the prison, the shooting began shortly before 9:00am (local and GMT) and lasted just more than a half hour, with rapid gunfire ringing out.

A security detail made up of police officers and special forces blocked access to the road leading to the prison on Tuesday morning, an AFP journalist saw.

An armoured vehicle belonging to the special forces was also visible in front of the jail.

More to come…