Explosions, gunfire reported at Somali capital

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
22 Jan 14:22
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Media reports say the attack targeted the headquarters of the Banaadir regional administration in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

Militants from Al-Shabaab terrorist organization in Somalia

A terrorist group carried out an attack on Banaadir regional administration main building in the country's capital, Mogadishu, Goobjoog News outlet reported on Sunday.

According to the media report, a car bombing initiated the attack followed by heavy gunfire. Three explosions shook the city, added the outlet.

According to the city police and witnesses, a blast and gunfire were heard in an ongoing attack at the mayoral offices in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

"Terrorists blasted a vehicle loaded with explosives onto a perimeter wall of the Mogadishu mall which is next to the Banadir administration headquarters," police officer Abdullahi Mohamed stated.

Witnesses said the huge explosion damaged nearby buildings and gunfire could still be heard near the mayor's office.

"There is gunfire going on inside the vicinity of the main building but we don't know what is happening inside," a witness who runs a business near the offices said.

"There are some casualties but the whole area is cordoned off and we have been asked to move away by the security forces."

It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.

Militant groups have been waging an insurgency against the central government for more than a decade. They managed to be active in parts of Somalia and other countries of the Horn of Africa, including Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti.

They have carried out numerous attacks in the last years that have claimed hundreds of lives.

Earlier this month, the Somalian government confirmed that Al-Shabaab, the Al-Qaeda-linked group, has requested negotiations after the army launched an "all-out war" against its militants.