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Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu | Somali presidential palace: 'Car bomb' attack in Mogadishu |
(35 minutes later) | |
A huge car bomb has exploded at the gates of Somalia's presidential palace, followed by a fierce gun battle inside, officials say. | |
It is not clear how many people died in the attack but a minister told the BBC the situation was "under control". | |
President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has told the UN envoy to Somalia he was not harmed, envoy Nick Kay has tweeted. | |
The al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab has said it carried out the attack, which it said was still ongoing. | |
Senior police officer Abdikadir Ahmed told the Reuters news agency the fighting was going on in the house of a military commander within the presidential compound, near the palace. | Senior police officer Abdikadir Ahmed told the Reuters news agency the fighting was going on in the house of a military commander within the presidential compound, near the palace. |
"The car bomb hit and exploded and other al-Shabab cars with armed men drove inside the palace, and heavy fighting is still going on," he said. | "The car bomb hit and exploded and other al-Shabab cars with armed men drove inside the palace, and heavy fighting is still going on," he said. |
Security Minister Abdi Karim Hussein told the BBC Somali service that some of the attackers had been killed and others captured. | |
He said all of the country's leaders were safe. | |
Al-Shabab military spokesman Sheikh Abdul Aziz Abu Musab said militants were still in control of some buildings inside the presidential compound. | |
"Our commandos have attacked the so-called presidential palace in order to kill or arrest those who who are inside," he told the AFP news agency. | |
Mr Kay said the attack on Villa Somalia had "failed". | |
"Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism," he said. |