Seventeen killed in attack on Somalia education ministry

Ten people have been killed in an assault on a government office complex in the Somali capital Mogadishu. Seven of the attackers were also killed, according to a government spokesman.

Eight civilians and two soldiers were killed in the attack in Mogadishu, the spokesman said.

The attackers stormed the ministry of higher education office complex after a suicide car bomber detonated his vehicle at the gate of the complex, opening the way for gunmen to enter, police spokesman Capt Mohamed Hussein said.

Mr Hussein said that police had secured the education ministry’s offices.

Al-Shabaab militants

The assault on the walled compound, which also houses other government ministries, is the latest attack by suspected al-Shabaab militants, who have launched a series of attacks in the capital on government targets and the African Union forces who are supporting the government.

Smoke could be seen rising over the compound.

Security forces rushed to the scene and ambulances ferried wounded victims to hospital.

PA