Al-Shabab militants kill 10 in a hotel in Somalia

Security officials say 10 people have been killed after al-Shabab militants stormed a hotel in Somalia's capital, Mogadishu.

Police said the attackers detonated two explosives outside the hotel before entering the building and opening fire.

They reportedly locked themselves on the top floor of the Hayat Hotel, a few hours after the attacks began.

A special police unit is said to have rescued dozens of guests and staff from the hotel.

"The security forces continued to control the terrorists who are surrounded in a room in the hotel building. Most of the people were rescued, but about eight civilians were confirmed dead so far," said one official, Mohamed Abdikadir.

Earlier, a website linked to al-Shabab said a group of militants had "forcefully entered" the hotel and were "carrying out indiscriminate shooting".

Hayat is described as a popular location for central government employees who hold meetings there

Nine people were injured and taken out of the hotel, the head of ambulance services, Aamin in Mogadishu, Abdikadir Abdirahman told the Reuters news agency earlier.

Unconfirmed images circulating on social media appeared to show smoke billowing from the hotel while loud noises and bangs were heard.

"Two car bombs targeted the Hayat Hotel," a police official told Reuters in a statement. "One hit the barricade near the hotel, and then the other hit the hotel gate. We believe the fighters are inside the hotel."

Al-Qaeda affiliates, al-Shabab have been involved in a long-running conflict with the central government of Somalia.

The group controls much of southern and central Somalia but has managed to spread its influence in areas controlled by the Mogadishu-based government.

In recent weeks, fighters affiliated with the group have also attacked areas along the Somali-Ethiopian border, which has raised concerns about the possibility of a new al-Shabab strategy.

Friday's attack is the first by the group in the capital since Somalia's new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.