Islamic extremists attack Timbuktu

People walk near the Sankore Mosque, a United Nations world heritage cultural site, in Timbuktu, Mali. The country's Army said on Sunday that Timbuktu is under attack by jihadist fighters.

Mali Army officials say Islamic extremist fighters have attacked Timbuktu in northern Mali.

Capt. Samba Coulibaly, spokesman for the Mali military in Timbuktu, said on Sunday there is continuing gunfire between the Army and jihadist fighters linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM. He said the Islamic radicals sneaked into the city’s military camp.

Capt. Coulibaly said the fighting started on Saturday night at about 10 p.m. when a jihadist suicide bomber blew himself up at a Malian military checkpoint at the western entrance to Timbuktu. He said one army soldier was slightly injured in the explosion.