Somali government forces have regained control of a ministry building that came under attack by Al-Shabaab insurgents, official said.
Interior Security minister Abdirizak Omar Mohamed stated that the compound of the Ministry of Higher Education and Culture was under the control of the government forces.
The compound was attacked by the Al-Shabaab, the radical jihadist group loyal to Al-Qaeda on Tuesday, just after noon, local time.
More than a dozen people, mostly civilian, are known to have died while scores of others sustained injuries.
The assault started with the jihadists smashing the gate with a vehicle packed with explosives. Then, a group of fighters entered the compound, firing indiscriminately.
Soon afterwards, a unit of a force belonging to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom) was deployed to the area to support guards defending the ministry’s building.
A broken leg
Officials at Madina Hospital, one of the main referral facilities in the city, said that up to 15 people were admitted while ambulances and emergency personnel were moving about, trying to help other victims of the attack.
Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the assault via al-Andalus, a broadcaster run by the fanatical movement.
The compound is situated along Maka-al-Mukarrama Avenue, one of the busiest traffic ways in the Somali capital.
The blasts and the bullets fired by the jihadists affected several pedestrians and motorists.
One of the education directors is known to have suffered a broken leg.
Africa Review
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