Ten die as al-Shabaab attack Somalia ministries

L-SHABAB militants have attacked a government complex in a busy area of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 10 people.

A car loaded with explosives was driven into the wall surrounding the compound, and gunmen then stormed the building.
Officials say the attack is now over and the building has been secured.

The militant group al-Shabab said it carried out the raid. It opposes the UN-backed administration and wants African Union forces to leave Somalia.

Last month, the al-Qaeda-linked insurgents launched a two-day siege at a hotel in Mogadishu.

And earlier this month, al-Shabab sent shockwaves through neighbouring Kenya when it killed 148 people in an attack on Garissa University.

Yesterday’s attack began when a suicide bomber struck the walled compound in a car laden with explosives.

Some reports also speak of a second large blast at the compound, which houses the Ministry of Culture and Higher Education as well as the Ministry of Petroleum.

Gunmen then streamed into the hole in the building’s defences and started shooting.
Somali government spokesman Ridwan Abdiweli said a total of 17 people died in the attack.