Al Shabab bombing kills at least 10 in Mogadishu blast

Officials say death toll could rise with dozens injured in the militant attack on Friday

The remains of a rickshaw lie outside a Mogadishu restaurant bombed by Al Shabab extremists. AP

Ten people were killed and dozens were injured when Al Shabab extremists bombed a restaurant in Mogadishu on Friday night.

A three-wheeler rickshaw packed with explosives hit the restaurant near the capital's port, Somalia's police spokesman Sadik Dudishe said.

"The terrorists carried out a cruel attack targeting a restaurant frequented by civilians. Ten people died and 30 others were wounded in the blast."

A security official and a medical source said the toll could be higher.

"The blast was very heavy and caused massive destruction and civilian casualties. The operation is still going on to establish the exact number of casualties but initial information security officials obtained indicates more than 10 people died," security officer Mohamed Osman said.

The medical official said 20 people were confirmed dead and 30 were wounded.

"Our teams on the ground confirmed the death of 20 people and 30 others were wounded," Abdikadir Abdirahman, director of Mogadishu's Aamin ambulance service, said.

The attack was claimed by Al Shabab, an Al Qaeda-linked group seeking to unseat Somalia's internationally backed government.

Al Shabab has frequently attacked Mogadishu during a long and violent insurgency after being driven out of the capital in 2011.

The militants control areas of Somalia where they plan and launch strikes against government and civilian targets.