Heavy gunfire and explosions erupted early Thursday near Niamey’s international airport in Niger before subsiding within hours, residents reported.

Videos showed bright streaks in the sky, large flames, and burned vehicles near the Diori Hamani International Airport, which also hosts an air force base about 10 km from the presidential palace.

The cause of the attack and whether there were any casualties remained unclear.

Calm returned roughly two hours after the shooting, while fire trucks were seen responding to the scene, France 24 has reported.

An activist supporting the military government urged residents to take to the streets to “defend the country.”