Attackers set off two car bombs outside a police base in Somalia’s capital before gunmen stormed inside on Sunday, leaving at least ten people dead, police said.
Islamist group al Shabaab claimed responsibility for the assault on the headquarters of Somalia’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Mogadishu, saying fighting was ongoing.
At least 10 people including four militants, five civilians and a soldier died in today’s attack.Hussein Ali, Police Officer
Another 15 people were injured, some seriously, he added.
It was the second major operation in the city this week by the Islamist militants who have kept up their guerilla war on the Western-backed government in the face of US drone strikes and African peacekeeping forces.
Heavy gunfire rang out inside for about half an hour after the first blast, said witnesses.
The bodies of four civilians lay in the street near the compound which was partially destroyed. A kiosk near the wall caught fire.
In al Shabaab’s first attack this week, 13 people were killed when two car bombs went off at the gate of the African Union’s main peacekeeper’s base, on Tuesday.
Security analysts had warned that the group could step up its attacks, taking advantage of the distraction caused by campaigning for a presidential election due in August.
Al Shabaab, seeking to impose its harsh form of Islam on the African nation, has also launched attacks in Kenya and Uganda, which have contributed troops to the African Union peacekeeping force.
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