MOGADISHU — At least five people were killed Sunday when gunmen stormed an upscale beachfront hotel in Somalia’s capital following a car bomb blast outside, in an attack reminiscent of others carried out by Al-Shabaab extremist group, a government security official said.

“There is still sporadic gunfire and the initial information we have received indicates five people died and more than 10 others were wounded. The death toll can increase because the blast was massive and there is a hostage situation involved,” Ahmed Omar said.

Earlier, a Somali police officer was quoted as saying that a car bomb went off at a beachside hotel in Mogadishu, followed by heavy gunfire.

Somalia’s homegrown extremist militants, Al-Shabab, who are allied to Al-Qaeda terrorist organizations, often carry out such attacks in the country’s capital. — Agencies