Al-Shabab attacks Somalia ministry, nine dead

Mogadishu, April 14: At least nine people were killed following an attack on Somalia's education ministry headquarters in the capital Mogadishu on Tuesday, media reported.

A car loaded with explosives was driven into the wall surrounding the compound, BBC reported.

There are reports that they have taken hostages. Somalia based militant group al-Shabab has claimed responsibility of the attack.

According to reports, ministry's director-general, Ismail Yusuf, was among the injured while one policeman was among the dead.

Public buses sat abandoned in the street close to the walled compound, which also houses the ministry of petroleum.

Somalia's Minister for Internal Security, Abdirizak Omar, tweeted that the attack was over: "UPDATE: Ministry of Education secured by Special Forces #Mogadishu #Somalia"

Al-Shabab militants often launch attacks in the city and have previously used car bombs to initiate attacks on fortified buildings.

Last month, the al-Qaeda-linked insurgents launched a two-day siege at a hotel in Mogadishu while atleast 148 people including students were killed when al-Shabab fighters stormed the Garissa University College campus in what appeared to be an extensively planned out attack, which the group says was to avenge Kenya's involvement in Somalia.

Last week, Somalia placed a bounty on the top 11 leaders of the group.

OneIndia News