A suicide attacker rammed a car bomb into the gates of the headquarters of Somalia’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Mogadishu before gunmen stormed the building.

Witnesses reported hearing two loud explosions and an ongoing attack.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack, saying fighting is ongoing inside the CID headquarters.

“A fighter rammed a suicide car bomb into CID then other armed fighters stormed inside. We are now fighting inside the CID building,” Abdiasis Abu Musab, al Shabaab’s military operations spokesman, told Reuters.

Earlier this week, al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for an attack on a hotel near Mogadishu’s International Airport, which left at least 13 people dead.

More to follow…