Al-Shabaab fighters have attacked a Somali army base southwest of the capital, Mogadishu, killing at least 10 soldiers, the group and a military officer told the Reuters news agency.

The attackers rammed a car packed with explosives before storming the base on Monday morning.

“A suicide car bomb rammed into the base and then al-Shabab fighters stormed it. At least 10 soldiers died,” Major Ahmed Farah told Reuters from the nearby town of Afgooye.

An al Shabaab spokesman said its fighters were behind the raid and said 30 soldiers had been killed.

The group often cites a higher death toll than official figures.

On Sunday, more than 100 members of al-Shabab raided a police station in northeast Kenya overnight, wounding one officer and making off with arms and ammunition, according to police.