At least 11 hurt in Somalia Al-Shabaab claimed attack

Mogadishu: At least 11 people were wounded when gunmen set off explosions and stormed government ministries in Somalia’s capital in an attack claimed by the Al-Shabaab extremist group, police said.

“There can be others inside but we have so far collected eleven people wounded in the attack,” said Abdukadir Abdirahman Adan, director of the Aamin ambulance service in the capital Mogadishu.

Police said the assault began when two explosions were set off near the ministries of public works and labour.

Gunmen entered the buildings following the blasts.

“The security forces rescued many of the staff from the buildings and they are still engaging some gunmen who managed to enter the building after the blast,” said security commander Ahmed Adan.

It remained unclear if there were any deaths in the attack.

The attack was claimed by the Al-Shabaab extremist group, which is fighting an armed insurrection in Somalia against what it sees as heretic and foreign influence.

Attacks that use a combination of bombs and gunmen have become a hallmark of the insurgents.

Earlier this month, at least 20 people died in an attack in Mogadishu which saw Al-Shabaab jihadists battling security forces for nearly 24 hours.

The group also claimed responsibility for a March 7 car bombing near a restaurant in the capital that killed four people. — AFP