Mogadishu, Feb 27 (IANS): At least 10 people were killed and 12 others injured Thursday when a car bomb went off at a restaurant near the Somali Intelligence and Security Agency headquarters in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, police said.

"The car bomb hit the building of the restaurant near the security and intelligence agency. Ten people, including some guards, were killed and 12 others injured in the blast," Ali Jama, police Officer, told Xinhua.

Jama said he believed the car bomb was remotely detonated as people sat at the restaurants frequented by government officers and civilians.

The explosion came as the Somali capital witnessed an upsurge in attacks by the radical group of Al Shabab.

The extremist group last week launched a brazen attack on the presidential palace where 12 people were killed including nine Al Shabab fighters.

The latest attack has not been claimed by the Al Qaeda-linked movement. But the attack carries all the hallmarks of the group which carries out suicide car bomb attacks.

The Somali government and African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said they planned to launch a major offensive against the areas under the control of Al Shabaab in southern and central parts of country.