July 31 (Xinhua) -- Al-Shabaab militants attacked the headquarters of Somalia's Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in the capital Mogadishu on Sunday, killing at least six people, and seven attackers were killed, a senior official said.

Security Minister Abdirizak Mohamed told the media that the militants tried to force their way into the CID headquarters but were repulsed by police.

"We have established that five civilians, one police officer and seven Al-Shabaab militants were killed," said Mohamed.

Police earlier said twin car bomb blasts hit the gate of the CID headquarters, followed by a shootout.

At least 16 people were injured and have been hospitalized, according to medical officers.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack. It came barely days after a similar Al-Shabaab attack last week rocked the gates of the UN and African Union mission bases in Mogadishu, killing 13 and injuring 17 others.

The Al-Shabaab Islamist group frequently carries out attacks on civilian and military targets in Somalia in a bid to topple the government.

Source:
courtesy of XINHUA NEWS AGENCY

by Xinhua News Agency

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