A Somali Government official has confirmed that at least nine people have been killed by a car bomb attack in the capital Mogadishu.
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"We heard a huge explosion in Wadajir district, there are some casualties," Abifutah Omar Halane, spokesman for Mogadishu's mayor, said.
DPA news agency reported that white smoke was seen above the capital and some houses were rattled by the blast.
Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the blast.
Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shabaab spokesman for military operations, said: "It's a suicide car bomb in Wadajir District building in which Somali officials and their staff stay. There are government and their staff who have died at the scene. We will tell you the number of dead later."
Al-Shabaab was forced out of the capital by national and African Union multinational forces, but continues to carry out deadly bombings and attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere. Their targets include hotels, military checkpoints and the presidential palace.