Five people have been killed in an Islamist attack on a government building in Mogadishu, a Somali police officer has confirmed.

Capt Mohamed Hussein said the minister, Saqar Ibrahim Abdalla, was killed in his ground-floor office shortly after gunmen stormed the building in Mogadishu.

At least five gunmen stormed the building after a suicide car bombing at the gates.

Somali security forces, fighting to take control of the building, exchanged fire with the militants.

Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Somali Islamist extremist group frequently carries out suicide bomb attacks targeting public places and government offices.