A Somali police officer says five people, including the country’s deputy labor minister, have been killed in an Islamic extremist attack on a government building in the capital.

Capt. Mohamed Hussein said the minister, Saqar Ibrahim Abdalla, was killed in his ground-floor office shortly after gunmen stormed the building in Mogadishu.

At least five gunmen stormed the building after a suicide car bombing at the gates.

Somali security forces, fighting to take control of the building, were exchanging fire with the militants.

Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for the attack.