Al Shabaab terrorists (file)
Al Shabaab terrorists (file)Reuters

Terrorist gunmen from Somalia's Islamist Al-Shabaab organization have attacked a seafront restaurant and cafe in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, a spokesman of the government confirmed to Al Jazeera Thursday evening.

Witnesses said there were two explosions followed by gunfire at the entrance of the Beach View cafe and Lido Sea Food restaurant on the popular Lido beach.

There were no immediate reports of casualties.

"The lights at Lido Sea Food have just been switched off. Heavy gunfire is now ongoing," Abdirizak Mohamud, a freelance journalist at the scene, told Al Jazeera. "Security forces are trying to go in."

The news source said that the restaurants at the Lido beach area are usually full on Thursday nights.

Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to Al Jazeera. The spokesman also said the attack was ongoing.

Al-Shabaab terrorists took over an African Union military base in southern Somalia just last week.

The terrorists set off a car bomb at the entrance to the Ceel Cado base in order to open the gate. Ceel Cado is located about 550 kilometers from the capital of Somalia.