Reports say the attackers stormed the ministry of higher education after one of the attackers detonated a vehicle at the gate of the ministry compound, opening the way for gunmen to enter.
A tweet from the Twitter account of the ministry of internal security in Somalia says there is no siege at the building and that most people have been rescued.
Editor Police have also secured the building according to Capt. Mohamed Hussein, a senior police officer.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by Al-Shabab.
African Union forces were recently deployed to the building. The militant group Al-Shabab has admitted responsibility for the attack.
This was the latest attack by suspected Al Shabaab members who have been targeting government institutions
Security forces rushed to the scene and ambulances ferried wounded victims to hospitals.
Unconfirmed reports say several people have been taken hostage.
Report say the head of security at the ministry who is also a police officer, was among the dead.
