MOGADISHU, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Five people have been confirmed dead and seven others seriously injured in a suicide car bomb attack in Mogadishu, capital of Somalia on Monday.

A suicide bomber rammed a car loaded with explosives into the gate of the local government office in Mogadishu, officials and witnesses said.

Local government spokesman Abdifitah Halan told reporters at the scene that the car which exploded near Mogadishu mayor's office in Hamar-weyne district had targeted civilians, including students passing by the area.

"The car drove to the entrance hitting the wall behind the mayor's office before exploding. We have established the death of five civilians and seven others were injured," said Halan.

He said Islamist militants were behind the latest brutal attack, which took place near a restaurant and a hotel near the house of the local government.

"The attack was carried out by a suicide bomber who loaded the car with explosives and targeted innocent civilians going to the market and rushing for lunch at the restaurants," he added.

District Commissioner of Hamar-weyne, Abdukadir Mohamed Abdukadir, said security forces have launched investigations into the terrorist car bomb attack and will give further updates on their investigations later.

An eyewitness told Xinhua by phone that government soldiers were among the dead and those wounded in the attack, which Somali Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility.