Suspected suicide bomber targets Somali government office

Gunfire and explosions were heard in the Somali capital on Monday, with agencies saying a suspected suicide bomber targeted a government building.

An explosion rocked Mogadishu on Monday, levelling buildings and leaving an unknown number wounded, police said. 

"The blast was huge and the initial information we are getting indicates it was a car loaded with explosives that targeted the Hodan district headquarters," police officer Ibrahim Mohamed told AFP.

He said that a vehicle had rammed into a security checkpoint before exploding.

Witnesses told Reuters that a speeding 4x4 vehicle rammed into a district office.

"I ran away and now I see from far the office completely destroyed. I see ambulances carrying casualties but I cannot make out how many dead or injured. I could see five people being taken by ambulance," a local told Reuters.

Images from the scene showed collapsed buildings - including a mosque - with rescue workers and civilians picking through the debris.

At least four people have been killed in the attack, according to AP.

Somalia's capital has witnessed numerous attacks on government buildings and civilian targets by the al-Qaeda linked, al-Shabaab militant group.

In October a huge blast ripped through traffic and buildings on a busy Mogadishu motorway, killing nearly 600 people.