Two large car bombs have targeted the education ministry in the Somalia capital, Mogadishu.
A police spokesman said there had been casualties.
Reports say one of the car bombs was driven into the building followed by another blast in the same area.
Eyewitness speak of massive damage, blown-out windows and a lot of smoke near the ministry.
The Islamist group al-Shabab frequently carries out such attacks but it has yet to say if it was responsible for today’s explosions.
It was not known who was behind the blasts but the Islamist group al-Shabab frequently carries out bombings and gun attacks in Mogadishu and elsewhere.
“Two car bombs hit the walls of the ministry,” police captain Nur Farah said.
The first explosion hit the ministry then the second blast occurred as ambulances arrived and people gathered to help the victims, Farah told Reuters.
A police officer guarding the ministry, who gave his name as Hassan, told Reuters he saw at least 12 bodies and more than 20 people wounded.
A Reuters journalist near the blast site said the two explosions occurred within minutes of each other and smashed windows in the vicinity.
Blood from victims of the blasts covered the tarmac just outside the building, he said.
The person who took this video is a fellow journalist working in #Somalia the large piece of glass landed on the mattress following twin blasts in Mogadishu #Zoope #Mogadishu an hour ago. This is his room and the aftermath. He is alive & safe. The face of #Terrorism is cruel pic.twitter.com/hTONHQZOoo
— Eric Njoka 🇰🇪 (@eriknjoka) October 29, 2022