At least five killed in blast, attack near Mogadishu mayor's office

Somali security forces stand outside the mayor's office following a blast in Mogadishu, Somalia January 22, 2023. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

Islamist fighters set off a bomb then stormed a government building in Somalia's capital on Sunday, killing at least five civilians, the ministry of information said.

Attackers from the al Shabaab group charged into the block that houses the office of Mogadishu's mayor around noon and got caught in a firefight with security forces, the ministry and witnesses said.