MOGADISHU, July 7 (Xinhua) -- A car bomb exploded on Saturday morning near the building housing Somalia's ministry of internal security in the Somali capital Mogadishu, police sources confirmed to Xinhua.
The police revealed that the attackers who are believed to be militants from al-Shabaab terrorist network had gained access to the building.
"The attackers initially detonated a car bomb outside the internal security ministry headquarters and a good number of them stormed the building. Security forces are engaging in a fierce gun battle with the assailants inside the building," said a police officer who requested anonymity.
Witnesses said they heard a huge blast that was followed by billowing smoke near the site of the attack.
"The huge blast was heard from the direction of internal ministry headquarters followed by a gun battle," said Abdifitah Ali, an eyewitness.
The al-Qaida linked al-Shabaab militants have claimed responsibility for the latest attack in the capital Mogadishu. But authorities are yet to confirm the number of casualties.
