Country’s deputy labour minister among those killed in attack claimed by al-Shabaab

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Five people, including the country’s deputy labour minister, have been killed in an Islamist extremist attack on a government building in the capital, Mogadishu, a Somali police officer has said.

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, exchanged fire with the militants.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Somali Islamist extremist group frequently carries out suicide bomb attacks targeting public places and government offices.