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Somalia jihadists al-Shabab launch Mogadishu attack | Somalia jihadists al-Shabab launch Mogadishu attack |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The Somali jihadist group al-Shabab has launched a major attack in the country's capital Mogadishu. | The Somali jihadist group al-Shabab has launched a major attack in the country's capital Mogadishu. |
A suicide bomb exploded near the national intelligence headquarters on Sunday morning. The sound of heavy gunfire was reported from the area. | |
Government officials say that they have "foiled the attack" and four militants are dead. | |
The militants have vowed to intensify attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began on Wednesday. | The militants have vowed to intensify attacks during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began on Wednesday. |
Al-Shabab claims to have killed several intelligence officers inside the building, something the government denies. | |
Interior ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf said security forces had successfully repulsed the attackers. | |
"They were trying to storm the premises but they have been taken out before they reached their objective. There was no casualty on our side," he told reporters. | |
Bodies of al-Shabab militants were shown to the media. | |
Witnesses reported a loud explosion signalling the start of the fighting. | Witnesses reported a loud explosion signalling the start of the fighting. |
"There was a heavy explosion and in seconds heavy gunfire broke out. We cannot go outside the house because of the shooting," local resident Abdulahi Yare told the AFP news agency. | "There was a heavy explosion and in seconds heavy gunfire broke out. We cannot go outside the house because of the shooting," local resident Abdulahi Yare told the AFP news agency. |
Security in the country has improved but al-Shabab still attacks Mogadishu regularly. The group has targeted the intelligence headquarters before. | Security in the country has improved but al-Shabab still attacks Mogadishu regularly. The group has targeted the intelligence headquarters before. |
Various armed groups have been battling for control of Somalia since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991. | Various armed groups have been battling for control of Somalia since the overthrow of President Siad Barre in 1991. |
In April, al-Shabab militants launched an assault across the border in Kenya on a university in the north-eastern town of Garissa. | In April, al-Shabab militants launched an assault across the border in Kenya on a university in the north-eastern town of Garissa. |
The attack killed 148 people in what was the deadliest ever attack by the group. | The attack killed 148 people in what was the deadliest ever attack by the group. |