FIVE people, including a deputy minister, were killed today after Al-Shabaab militants stormed government buildings in the Somali capital, a witness and a senator told AFP.

“I saw the dead bodies of four people, one of them in police uniform,” said witness Abdulahi Mohamed.

Senator Ilyas Ali Hassan named the dead politician as Saqar Ibrahim Abdalla, who was killed separately.

The attack began with twin bombings of the complex housing the Works and Labour Ministries, which were then stormed by militants.

Police official Ibrahim Mohamed said the attack ended after police killed four gunmen.

“There were some other casualties, including members of the police force,” he said without elaborating.

The attack also left at least 11 people wounded, said Abdukadir Abdirahman Adan, director of the Aamin ambulance service in the capital, Mogadishu.

Shortly after the assault began, Al-Shabaab issued a statement, claiming credit.

Attacks that combine bombings with gunmen have become a speciality of the al-Qaeda-linked group, which is fighting an armed insurrection in Somalia against what it sees as heretic and foreign influence.

Earlier this month, at least 20 people died in an attack in Mogadishu that saw Al-Shabaab jihadists battling security forces for nearly 24 hours. – AFP, March 23, 2019.