Militants in Somalia attack presidential palace with car bomb, gunmen; casualties not known

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Police in Somalia say that militants wearing suicide vests and carrying guns and grenades have attacked the presidential palace.

Police Capt. Mohamed Hussein said they began the attack with a car bomb, and then tried to fight their way into the presidential palace as guards returned fire.

Casualty figures were not immediately known.

A second police officer, Ali Hassan, said a second blast was heard during the attack.

The heavily guarded presidential palace is the residence of the country's president, prime minister and speaker of parliament.

An al-Qaida-linked group called al-Shabab has been waging war in Somalia for years.