Somalia: Terrorist bombs, gunfire kill at least 10

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group Al-Shabaab in Somalia on 23 March 2019 [Sadak Mohamed/Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

At least 10 people, including soldiers, civilians, and a deputy minister, were killed when a car bomb followed by gunfire targeted government buildings in the Somali capital Mogadishu on Saturday, officials said.

Mohamed Bulle, a police officer, told Anadolu Agency over the phone that the double car bomb blast targeted the Labor Ministry and Public Works and Housing Ministry buildings.

“After the blasts, gunmen stormed the building,” he added.

Five of the terrorist attackers were among the dead, and the wounded were rushed to hospital, he said.

Somali Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre also confirmed the attack, saying: “I expressed my condolences to the families of the victims of today’s cowardly terrorist attacks in Mogadishu, including Deputy Minister for Labour and Social Affairs Saqar Ibrahim Abdalla, who was killed in the attack”.

Somali-based al-Qaeda affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.

Separately, a roadside blast outside Mogadishu killed four government soldiers on Saturday. Another two blasts wounded three civilians, according to police sources.

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab in Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Explosion site is seen after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]

Smoke rises after a terror attack carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group Al-Shabaab with a bomb-laden vehicle near two ministry buildings in the Somalian capital of Mogadishu on March 23, 2019 [Sadak Mohamed / Anadolu Agency]