Islamists attack intelligence site in Somalia, leaving 11 dead

Residents gather near a destroyed car after an attack by suspected militants at the Jilacow underground cell inside a national security compound in Mogadishu August 31, 2014. REUTERS/Feisal Omar

MOGADISHU (Reuters) - Islamist rebels blew up a car bomb and gunmen attacked a national intelligence site in Somalia's capital where suspected militants are held, in an assault on Sunday that left 11 people dead, government officials and the rebel group said.

Three soldiers and one civilian were killed along with seven militants, including the suicide bomber who detonated the vehicle packed with explosives, Security Ministry spokesman Mohamed Yusuf told reporters at the site.