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| Somali presidential palace attacked | Somali presidential palace attacked |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Militants wearing suicide vests and carrying guns and grenades have attacked Somalia's presidential palacein Mogadishu. The president was reported to be unharmed, though others were killed. | |
| Police captain Mohamed Hussein said the militants launched the attack with a car bomb, and then tried to fight their way into the presidential palace as guards returned fire. A second police officer, Ali Hassan, said a second blast was heard during the attack. | |
| The heavily guarded presidential palace is the residence of the president, prime minister and speaker of parliament. | |
| "President just called me to say he's unharmed. Attack on Villa #Somalia had failed. Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism," the UN's representative in Somalia, Nick Kay, said on Twitter. | "President just called me to say he's unharmed. Attack on Villa #Somalia had failed. Sadly some lives lost. I condemn strongly this terrorism," the UN's representative in Somalia, Nick Kay, said on Twitter. |
| The al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabaab has been fighting in Somalia for years, trying to oust a western-backed government whose military is supported by African Union forces. Al-Shabaab was ousted from Mogadishu in 2011, but militants still attack the seat of government as well as sites popular with foreigners. | The al-Qaida-linked group al-Shabaab has been fighting in Somalia for years, trying to oust a western-backed government whose military is supported by African Union forces. Al-Shabaab was ousted from Mogadishu in 2011, but militants still attack the seat of government as well as sites popular with foreigners. |
| In Friday's attack, a speeding car full of explosives rammed into a barricade protecting the presidential palace, causing an explosion and sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Gunmen chanting "God is great" then moved toward a second gate and tried to force their way into the complex. Terrified civilians ran for cover as bullets flew past and soldiers shot into the air. | In Friday's attack, a speeding car full of explosives rammed into a barricade protecting the presidential palace, causing an explosion and sending plumes of smoke into the sky. Gunmen chanting "God is great" then moved toward a second gate and tried to force their way into the complex. Terrified civilians ran for cover as bullets flew past and soldiers shot into the air. |
| As the gunfire intensified, a second blast was heard inside the presidential palace, suggesting some militants had entered. | As the gunfire intensified, a second blast was heard inside the presidential palace, suggesting some militants had entered. |
| Abdikarim Hussein, Somalia's security minister, said all the militants had been killed or arrested and that calm had returned. It was not clear how many attackers were involved. | |
| The Somali government is trying to restore law and order in one of the world's most dangerous cities. Militants often use suicide car bombs to penetrate the fortified targets, making it hard for soldiers to react quickly amid the ensuing chaos. | The Somali government is trying to restore law and order in one of the world's most dangerous cities. Militants often use suicide car bombs to penetrate the fortified targets, making it hard for soldiers to react quickly amid the ensuing chaos. |